'take to task' definitions:
Definition of 'take to task'
(from WordNet)
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: call on the carpet, take to task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, scold, chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out, chew up, have words, lambaste, lambast]
Synonyms of 'take to task'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- 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,
- denounce,
- denunciate,
- discipline,
- fasten on,
- fasten upon,
- finger,
- hang something on,
- have words with,
- impeach,
- imply,
- impute,
- indict,
- inflict upon,
- inform against,
- inform on,
- insinuate,
- lay charges,
- lecture,
- lodge a complaint,
- lodge a plaint,
- masthead,
- objurgate,
- penalize,
- pillory,
- pin on,
- prefer charges,
- press charges,
- punish,
- put on report,
- rate,
- rebuke,
- report,
- reprehend,
- reprimand,
- reproach,
- reprove,
- scold,
- set down,
- set straight,
- settle with,
- spank,
- square accounts,
- straighten out,
- take down,
- task,
- taunt with,
- tax,
- twit,
- upbraid,
- visit upon