That was a really polite way to say no to someone, to decline an offer from them.

那是拒绝别人的非常礼貌的方式，拒绝别人的邀请。

Dr. Quake visited in 2015 but eventually declined an offer to serve on the company's scientific advisory board.

2015年，奎克去该公司参观了一番，但最终拒绝了出任该公司科学顾问委员的邀请。