take to task, to

take someone to task

to scold or reprimand someone. The teacher took John to task for his bad behavior. I lost a big contract, and the boss took me to task in front of everyone.
See also: take, task
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

take to task

Upbraid, scold; blame or censure. For example, The teacher took Doris to task for turning in such a sloppy report. This term, dating from the mid-1700s, at first meant either assigning or challenging someone to a task. Its current sense dates from the late 1800s.
See also: take, task
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

take to task, to

To reprimand; to blame or censure. This term was used from the mid-eighteenth century to mean either assigning or challenging someone to a task. In its present meaning it has been current only since the late nineteenth century. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used it in Captain Polestar (1890): “My employer took me severely to task.” It sounds a bit stilted now and may be dying out.
See also: take
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • an uphill task
  • task
  • cooperate
  • cooperate on (something)
  • work (one's) way through (something)
  • work, etc. your way through something
  • get round to (something)
  • on task
  • come to the task with (something)
  • tough/hard/long row to hoe, a