Plead the fifth意思

"Plead the fifth" is a colloquial expression in the United States that refers to the right against self-incrimination, as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Fifth Amendment states, in part, that no person "shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself."

When someone "pleads the fifth," they are invoking this right, which means they refuse to answer a question or provide information that could potentially be used against them in a criminal prosecution. This right can be exercised during criminal proceedings, but it is also applicable in other contexts where someone might be asked questions that could lead to self-incrimination, such as in a court deposition, a police interrogation, or before a grand jury.

The phrase "plead the fifth" is derived from the legal term "pleading the Fifth," which is the act of invoking the Fifth Amendment privilege. It is important to note that while the Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves, it does not grant the right to lie or to refuse to testify about matters that do not incriminate oneself.