take the stand
Witness under oath
To take the stand is to sit in the witness chair in a courtroom and give testimony under oath.
The stand is the designated place where witnesses are questioned by attorneys: The defendant decided to take the stand in her own defense.
Someone who takes the stand submits to cross-examination and risks perjury charges if they lie.
- testifyGive sworn evidence
- oathFormal binding promise
- under oathFormally pledged to honesty
- witnessOne who attests
- juryLegal decision-making body
attest · character witness · judge · declare · cross-examination · defendant · trial · hostile witness · truth · voice · prosecution · self-incrimination · lawyer · subpoena · swear · raise your hand · tell the truth · courtroom
take the standremain silent
clam up · stay mum · keep quiet · hold one's tongue · stonewalling
take the standgo into hiding
take, stand, standing, mistake, understand, taken, taking, understanding, overtake