take to task

take to task
verb
censure severely or angrily
-

The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car

-

The deputy ragged the Prime Minister

-

The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup

Syn:
Derivationally related forms:
chiding (for: ↑chide), ↑scolder (for: ↑scold), ↑scolding (for: ↑scold), ↑reprimand (for: ↑reprimand), ↑lecture (for: ↑lecture), ↑reproof (for: ↑reproof), ↑rebuker (for: ↑rebuke), ↑rebuke (for: ↑rebuke)
Hypernyms: ↑knock, ↑criticize, ↑criticise, ↑pick apart
Hyponyms:
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s somebody

-

Somebody ——s PP

(for: ↑have words)
-

Somebody ——s PP

(for: ↑remonstrate)
-

Somebody ——s PP

(for: ↑jaw)

* * *

phrasal
1. obsolete : to undertake as one's special work : challenge to a feat : deal with
2. : to call to account for a shortcoming : reprove

is right in taking to task the historians for slighting this important development — C.V.Woodward

* * *

take to task
To call to account, reprove
• • •
Main Entry:take
————————
take (someone) to task
To rebuke (someone)
• • •
Main Entry:task

* * *

take (someone) to task
: to criticize (someone) harshly

The boss took me to task for wasting time.

• • •
Main Entry:task

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • take to task — ► take to task reprimand or criticize. Main Entry: ↑task …   English terms dictionary

  • take to task — index castigate, condemn (blame), denounce (condemn), disapprove (condemn), discipline (punish …   Law dictionary

  • take to task — Synonyms and related words: accuse, admonish, allege, arraign, article, book, bring accusation, bring charges, bring to account, bring to book, call to account, castigate, charge, chasten, chastise, chide, cite, complain, correct, deal with,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • take to task — take (someone) to task to criticize someone angrily for something that they have done. She took my father to task for getting drunk at my cousin s wedding. (often + for) …   New idioms dictionary

  • take to task — verb To lecture, berate, admonish, or hold somebody accountable for his or her actions. [W]hen any of his descendants chose to take him to task for the crudeness of his manners he was accustomed to look them coldly over and retort that things had …   Wiktionary

  • take to task — {v. phr.} To reprove or scold for a fault or error. * /He took his wife to task for her foolish wastefulness./ * /The principal took Bill to task for breaking the window./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take to task — {v. phr.} To reprove or scold for a fault or error. * /He took his wife to task for her foolish wastefulness./ * /The principal took Bill to task for breaking the window./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take\ to\ task — v. phr. To reprove or scold for a fault or error. He took his wife to task for her foolish wastefulness. The principal took Bill to task for breaking the window …   Словарь американских идиом

  • take to task — scold for a fault or error I was taken to task by the supervisor for not arriving at work on time …   Idioms and examples

  • take to task — Reprove, reprimand, chide, take to do, call to account, rebuke …   New dictionary of synonyms

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”