What do we mean by "Let's take this offline"?

To take a subject matter offline and choose not to discuss it in a meeting or forum would imply that the topic is not urgently in need of addressing. It may be that another audience or person is needed to discuss in more depth, according to a realistic analysis of the situation. Thus, the meeting can continue without deviating from its intended course and, ideally, conclude at 5 p.m. on a Friday so that everyone can leave the office or Zoom meeting and begin drinking.

The opposite of this phrase, which might be more sinister, is when there is a growing sense of unease when people are talking about a subject and start arguing or bickering, which prompts someone to intervene and propose that the subject is discussed offline.

The other possibility is that some group members are not interested in the topic and do not want to waste time learning about it. "Let's take this offline", since there might be a more relevant reason that just a few people in the group need to know about and debate more.

Where did the phrase originate?

Although its exact origin is unclear, possibly the phrase was used in the early 2000s, when the digital era was starting to boom. however, it has since become more influenced to use as a term in many meetings that take place today.

There is another theory which may not have any association with the term, but could have a similar response to a situation, the production line  in factories. Employees working on the production line would have had some responsibility when observing and examining the quality of products that advanced along the conveyor belt.

An employee would highlight that a particular product needed further attention as it would have been recognised as damaged or questionable in its development, the worker would suggest taking it off the conveyor belt line for further inspection.

There is a possibility this could stem back as far as the 1960's where factories were a dominant industry, and the term is likely to have been used often and even today, especially in chocolate factories.

Are employees likely to use the phrase?

Depending on the individual, everyone who attends a meeting or gathering of some kind, will probably use the phrase. The hierarchy, CEO, heads, and directors will undoubtedly pull faces during the contentious discussion, prompting some brown noser to do the needful thing and take it offline for a worthwhile cause. Certain management types will typically interfere and make the decision to take the subject matter offline.

Other Phrases to use instead

''Let's follow this topic up after the meeting''.

''We can talk after the meeting even".