Everyday Office Jargon · Intern level

"Take one for the team"

"Take one for the team" means to accept an unpleasant or unwanted task so that colleagues do not have to.

Say this instead: do the unwanted task

How "Take one for the team" shows up at work

Usually said by someone who is not the one taking it. Shows up in coverage conversations, holiday scheduling, and any situation where a manager needs a volunteer and no one is volunteering. The person who actually does the task rarely describes it this way.

Buzzword

I know it's a tough call, but someone needs to take one for the team on this.

Plain English

I know it's a tough call, but someone needs to do the unwanted task here.

Corporate Rank: Intern  ·  Category: Everyday Office Jargon

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