What it actually means
This is getting interesting and I need to control it before anyone says something useful.
Surface meaning: To remove a discussion from a group setting and continue it privately.
If someone just said “Take This Offline” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
VP: Great points, let's take this offline.
(Never spoken of again.)
How to respond
If you raised the point, send a follow-up email within an hour with three lines of context and one ask. Force the offline to be real.
Origin
Pre-2000 office jargon, when 'online' meant the meeting and 'offline' meant the hallway.
FAQ
What does "Take This Offline" actually mean?
This is getting interesting and I need to control it before anyone says something useful.
Where did the phrase "Take This Offline" come from?
Pre-2000 office jargon, when 'online' meant the meeting and 'offline' meant the hallway.
How should I respond when someone says "Take This Offline"?
If you raised the point, send a follow-up email within an hour with three lines of context and one ask. Force the offline to be real.
Related corporate vocabulary
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
Open the simulator →