# take to task

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-to-task
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To lecture, berate, admonish, or hold somebody accountable for his or her actions.

## Examples

- The manager took the employee to task for being late.
- After the project failed, the director took the entire team to task for their lack of preparation.
- The editor took the journalist to task for failing to verify the sources before publishing such a controversial and damaging report.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.