Idiom: take someone aside

Meaning

Idiom: take someone aside / pull someone aside

to bring someone to a different area to privately speak with them

Notes:

— Pull someone aside evokes the image of pulling someone's arm to physically move them away to a private area. At the same time, this idiom does not mean someone has to physically touch someone to move them to another place.

— It's just as common to use either form: "take" or "pull."

Example sentences

— I tried all evening to take the artist aside but everyone was also trying to talk to her.

— I was so happy when the team leader took me aside and said my project was outstanding.

— Could you please pull that woman aside so we can talk to her about her order. There's been a mix up unfortunately.

— We need to take the director aside for a moment and let her know that the keynote speaker got into an accident on the way here and cannot participate.

— I was shocked when my husband took me aside to explain that the woman I was just talking to was his ex-fiancé.

— I felt someone pull me aside and whisper that my father had died but I don't remember anything else that happened that day.

— Why didn't you take me aside and tell me my credit card was declined instead of yelling it so loudly that everyone stared at me?

— Let's take that group aside so the police can interview them privately.

— I pulled the manager aside to complain about our room and he upgraded us to a suite.

— My teacher took me aside and quietly told me that I'd failed the test but that she'd give me a chance to retake it next week.

— When the coach pulled my son aside and whispered angrily in his ear, I was shocked and had no idea what happened.

— During the meeting, my manager took me aside to discuss my performance.

— Can you please pull your sister aside and ask her to stop interrupting everyone's speeches?

— The teacher pulled the student aside to address his behavior in class.

— Before the presentation, our team leader took us aside to give some last-minute instructions.

— John pulled his colleague aside to share some confidential information.

— I was scared when my boss took me aside after the staff meeting but he actually wanted to discuss a promotion opportunity with me.

— I'm going to see if I can take the CEO aside during the break to talk about the upcoming marketing campaign.

— The lawyer pulled her client aside to review the legal documents before the trial.

Synonyms

have a word (with someone)
have a quiet word (with someone)

Idiom: take someone aside

Meaning

Example sentences

Synonyms

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