To take to task

To take to task
Task Task (t[.a]sk), n. [OE. taske, OF. tasque, F. t[^a]che, for tasche, LL. tasca, taxa, fr. L. taxare to rate, appraise, estimate. See {Tax}, n. & v.] 1. Labor or study imposed by another, often in a definite quantity or amount. [1913 Webster]

Ma task of servile toil. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

2. Business; employment; undertaking; labor. [1913 Webster]

His mental powers were equal to greater tasks. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]

{To take to task}. See under {Take}. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Work; labor; employment; business; toil; drudgery; study; lesson; stint. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • 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 — 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, ↑rebuke, ↑rag, ↑trou …   Useful english 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

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