You have the right to remain silent

In the United States, the Miranda warning or famously "You have the right to remain silent" is a type of notification customarily given by police to criminal suspects in police custody (or in a custodial interrogation) advising them of their right to silence and, in effect, protection from self-incrimination; that is, their right to refuse to answer questions or provide information to law enforcement or other officials. These rights are often referred to as Miranda rights. The purpose of such notification is to preserve the admissibility of their statements made during custodial interrogation in later criminal proceedings. The Miranda warning is part of a preventive criminal procedure rule that law enforcement are required to administer to protect an individual who is in custody and subject to direct questioning or its functional equivalent from a violation of their Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination. In Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court held that the admission of an elicited incriminating statement by a suspect not informed of these rights violates the Fifth Amendment and the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, through the incorporation of these rights into state law. Thus, if law enforcement officials decline to offer a Miranda warning to an individual in their custody, they may interrogate that person and act upon the knowledge gained, but may not ordinarily use that person's statements as evidence against them in a criminal trial.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions. You have the right to have a lawyer with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you have the right to stop answering at any time.

by very_funny September 19, 2022

Silent Bird

The act of giving the middle finger to someone after they left the room or the area. Also included is the double silent bird when both hands are used.

My boss came in and chewed me out for not getting started with the project he never told me about. I nodded while he was describing the project but when he left I flipped him the silent bird.

by klamasa March 19, 2011

Silent team

When you have reached the most elite level of basketball and have the ablilty to silence an entire crowd

1: woah he’s sick at ball

2: yeah he’s on silent team

by recd December 28, 2017

Silent Bowling

The girls that get…get and the girls who don’t…don’t

Silent Bowling am I right?!

by CSS October 5, 2023

Silent Greeting

An awkward half-greeting consisting of mouthing hello, with none or very little sound coming out. Only made worse when eye contact is made.

Shopper: *walks into store
Cashier: *sees someone
Cashier: "Hello!"
Shopper: "....(silent greeting)"
Cashier: "...."
Shopper: "...."
Cashier: ....can I help you?"

by Garrbear570 July 13, 2011

Radio Silent

To cut off comms completely — no texts, no calls, no snaps, nothing.

To ghost someone, either intentionally or accidentally.

"Yeah mate, she was so annoying i just went Radio Silent."

by Trizzy1 May 20, 2025

Silented

To have a thought or idea, and forget it right away. As if you came up with the idea while staring at one of the Silence, and then looked away.
Coming from Doctor Who, where the order known as the Silence are "memory-proof", so you can only remember them while you look at them, and you forget them when you look away. The Silence uses post-hypnotic suggestion to make people do their bidding without people realizing what they're doing or why.

Doctor: "Amy, Rory: I have a great idea!"
Amy: "What is it?"
Doctor: "Uhh… I forget…."
Rory: "Hah. You just Silented!"

by WeAreTheSilence November 28, 2012