take the stand

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Thân thiện
Definition

Verb: - To formally give testimony or answer questions while under oath in a court of law. This action involves physically moving to and sitting in the witness stand.

Examples
  • The key witness was nervous when she had to take the stand.
  • After being called by the defense attorney, the defendant chose to take the stand in his own defense.
  • The judge reminded the witness that he was still under oath after he took the stand.
Advanced Usage
  • "to be called to take the stand": To be formally requested by the court or an attorney to give testimony.
    • The expert was called to take the stand to explain the technical evidence.
  • "to refuse to take the stand": To exercise one's right (such as the Fifth Amendment in the U.S.) and decline to give testimony.
    • On the advice of her lawyer, she refused to take the stand.
Variants and Related Words
  • Testify (verb): To give evidence as a witness. This is the core action performed when one "takes the stand."
    • She agreed to testify about what she saw.
  • Witness stand (noun): The physical place in a courtroom where a witness gives testimony. This is the location one "takes."
    • The prosecutor pointed to the evidence from the witness stand.
Synonyms
  • Give evidence: To provide information in a legal context.
  • Be sworn in: To take an oath before testifying (this is the immediate action before giving testimony on the stand).
Related Phrases
  • Take the oath: To formally swear to tell the truth before testifying. This is a procedural step that occurs when one "takes the stand."
    • Before he could testify, he had to take the oath.
  • On the stand: The state of currently giving testimony. This phrase describes the period when one has already "taken the stand."
    • Her credibility was challenged while she was on the stand.
Related Idioms
  • Take the Fifth: (U.S. idiom) To invoke the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, often resulting in a refusal to "take the stand" or answer specific questions.
    • When asked about the meeting, the suspect decided to take the Fifth.
Verb
  1. give testimony in a court of law

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