What it actually means
I am adding you so you cannot later say you weren't told. Plausible-deniability shield activated.
Surface meaning: To include someone in a conversation, typically by adding them to an email or chat thread.
If someone just said “Loop In” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Eng Lead: Looping in Sarah from legal.
Sarah: (added to 47-message thread with no summary)
How to respond
When you're looped in cold, reply to the looper only: 'What specifically do you need from me?' Don't read the thread until they answer.
Origin
From 'in the loop' (1960s aviation jargon). Now means 'on the email chain so I can blame you later'.
FAQ
What does "Loop In" actually mean?
I am adding you so you cannot later say you weren't told. Plausible-deniability shield activated.
Where did the phrase "Loop In" come from?
From 'in the loop' (1960s aviation jargon). Now means 'on the email chain so I can blame you later'.
How should I respond when someone says "Loop In"?
When you're looped in cold, reply to the looper only: 'What specifically do you need from me?' Don't read the thread until they answer.
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 →