take the fifth
Taking refuge behind the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while testifying at a trial.
Alger Hiss took the Fifth when asked whether he was a member of the Communist Party.
Not to answer any question in an informal setting.
Have you been married before? - I take the Fifth.
take the floor
To get up and make a speech in a meeting.
Встать и выступить с речью на собрании.
The audience became very attentive the moment the president took the floor.
Аудитория стала очень внимательной, как только президент взял слово.
The board members took the floor one after another to give their thoughts on the restructuring plan for the company.
Члены совета директоров один за другим выступили с заявлениями, чтобы высказать свои соображения по поводу плана реструктуризации компании.
We need you to take the floor and express the concerns of our department.
Нам нужно, чтобы вы выступили и выразили обеспокоенность нашего департамента.
take the law into one's own hands
To protect one's supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a court. An overused expression.
When the men of the settlement caught the suspected murderer, they took the law into their own hands and hanged him to a tree.
His farm was going to be sold for taxes, but he took the law into his own hands and drove the sheriff away with a shotgun.
take the lid off
To let out in the open; divulge.
It's about time to take the lid off the question of how many prisoners of war are still in enemy hands.
To start to face an issue.
"The best way to deal with your divorce," the doctor said to Fran, "is to take the lid off of it."
take the offensive
To make oneself the attacking party.
Сделать себя нападающей стороной.
After many months of preparation, the freedom fighters were ready to take the offensive.
После многих месяцев подготовки борцы за свободу были готовы перейти в наступление.
If you don't take the offensive as soon as the debate starts, your opponent is going to walk all over you!
Если вы не перейдете в наступление сразу же, как только начнется спор, ваш оппонент вас растопчет!
Every time Mike and I start to fight, he immediately takes the offensive and won't listen to my side of things.
Каждый раз, когда мы с Майком начинаем ссориться, он тут же переходит в наступление и не желает слушать мою версию событий.
take the pledge
To swear to give up drinking, smoking, or using drugs.
Поклясться бросить пить, курить и употреблять наркотики.
Gary finally took the pledge and he has kept it thus far.
Гэри наконец принял клятву не пить и держит ее до сих пор.
In a world filled with temptations, those who take the pledge find strength in their resolve.
В мире, полном искушений, те, кто принимает обет, обретают силу в своей решимости.
When you take the pledge, you not only commit to yourself but also inspire others to follow suit.
Принимая клятву, вы не только берете на себя обязательство, но и вдохновляете других последовать вашему примеру.
take the plunge
To take a fatal or decisive step; venture.
Предпринимать роковой или решительный шаг; отваживаться.
When I asked Don when he and Melissa were going to get married, he answered that they'll take the plunge in September.
Когда я спросил Дона, когда они с Мелиссой собираются пожениться, он ответил, что они решатся в сентябре.
After months of debating, Sarah finally decided to take the plunge and start her own business.
После месяцев раздумий Сара наконец решилась на решительный шаг и открыла собственный бизнес.
Although he was nervous about moving to a new city, Jake knew it was time to take the plunge and pursue his dreams.
Хотя Джейк и нервничал по поводу переезда в новый город, он знал, что пришло время сделать решительный шаг и осуществить свои мечты.
take the rap
To receive punishment; to be accused and punished.
All of the boys took apples, but only John took the rap.
Joe took the burglary rap for his brother and went to prison for two years.