off the record
unofficial · confidential · not for public disclosure
What's the situation?
Imagine you're chatting with a colleague about potential new projects, but you're sharing some early, undeveloped ideas that aren't ready for official meetings. This is when you'd preface your thoughts with 'off the record' to ensure they understand it's a private, informal discussion, not something to be quoted or formally documented. It's like saying 'just between us!' 😉