Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

take the fifth

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.75 in modern English

Syllables: take the -fifth
IPA

28

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To decline to comment, especially on grounds that it might be incriminating.

verb

Alternative letter-case form of take the fifth.

Example Sentences

"If you ask me who ate the last of the ice cream, I will simply take the fifth."
"“Do you believe the violence on January 6 was justified morally?” she asked. Flynn squinted, truculent. “Take the Fifth,” he said."

Etymology

A reference to the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which, among other provisions (e.g., prohibition of double jeopardy), protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves (i.e., self-incrimination).

Inflected Forms

takes the fifth (present, singular) taking the fifth (participle, present) took the fifth (past) taken the fifth (participle, past)

Phrases

no comment

Frequently Paired Words

no comment

Synonyms

plead the Fifth take the fifth amendment

Questions

What does take the fifth mean?: To decline to comment, especially on grounds that it might be incriminating.
Where does take the fifth come from?: A reference to the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which, among other provisions (e.g., prohibition of double jeopardy), protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves (i.e., self-incrimination).

How to pronounce take the fifth

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