take the fifth

A reference to the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which, among other provisions, protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves.

• "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."

• plead the Fifth

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