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Do people in countries besides the U.S. use the phrase "plead the fifth"?

Question #142224. Asked by Joepetz.
Last updated Mar 30 2017.
Originally posted Feb 13 2016 3:01 PM.

Related Trivia Topics: Linguistics   Idioms and Proverbs  
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akg1486
Answer has 11 votes
Currently Best Answer
akg1486
15 year member
91 replies avatar

Answer has 11 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Since "pleading the fifth" invokes the rights guaranteed in the fifth amendment to the U.S. constitution, the phrase as such would not make sense in any country where the U.S. constitution is not law.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

That is not to say that people in other countries are not granted the same, or similar, rights.

Feb 13 2016, 3:06 PM
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looney_tunes star
Answer has 9 votes
looney_tunes star
Moderator
19 year member
3308 replies avatar

Answer has 9 votes.
Although the phrase does indeed refer specifically to the US Constitution, people around the world are familiar with its meaning through watching movies and television (especially crime shows), and happily use the phrase to avoid giving an uncomfortable answer in social situations, even though it has no legal significance for them. Of course, expats such as myself contribute to its usage!

link http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/I+plead+the+Fifth

Response last updated by CmdrK on Mar 30 2017.
Feb 13 2016, 5:20 PM
penguintrivia
Answer has 3 votes
penguintrivia
11 year member
33 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
In jurisdictions where British common law applies there is a common law privilege against self-incrimination which "...entitles a person to refuse to answer any question, or produce any document, if the answer or the production would tend to incriminate that person." The US Fifth amendment codifies this pre-existing privilege so citizens in the US may claim this right by citing the constitutional amendment while in other jurisdictions (Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand etc.) the right is simply asserted before the judge.
link http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/15.%20Privilege%3A%20Other%20Privileges/privilege-respect-self-incrimination-other-proceedings

Feb 13 2016, 8:23 PM
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