In this video clip from a Few Good Men, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyMggFe9WRQ&t=29:
Tom Cruise: Of course.
Jack Nicholson : Corporal will take you by personnel on your way out to the flight line...
What is "take someone by something"? I searched many dictionaries but couldn't find a definition for this phrasal verb.
He says 'Corporal will take you by personnel' - this means 'Corporal will take you by the personnel department' or 'escort you to' the personnel department - to pick up the forms needed for the transfer.
That's American English.
In English, you would say 'Corporal will take you TO Personnel'.
'Personnel' is shorthand for 'the Personnel Department' - the department that organises all the admin to do with the personnel or employees.
So 'take you by' means 'escort you to' or 'accompany you to' - to show you where it is.
Take you by - also has a sense that you'll just drop in 'drop by' - for a short visit. You pass by, grabbing the form - and then you're out and on your way.
