task

Related to task: thesaurus, TASC

an uphill task

A task that is very daunting from the outset and continues to be challenging. The incumbent is so popular that defeating her will be an uphill task. I'm terrible at math, so I have a real uphill task ahead of me if I want to improve my grade in Algebra.
See also: task, uphill

be taken to task (by someone)

To be scolded, rebuked, reprimanded, or held accountable (by someone). I was taken to task by the headmaster for disrupting class again. It's not entirely fair that the bankers are the only ones being taken to task for the economic collapse, when a great many politicians are to blame as well.
See also: taken, task

bring (one) to task

To scold, reprimand, or lecture someone for some wrong or error they have committed. Mom brought me to task over the alcohol she found in my car. You don't have to bring everyone to task who misuses the word "literally," you know.
See also: bring, task

call (one) to task

To scold, reprimand, or lecture someone for some wrong or error they have committed. Mom called me to task over the alcohol she found in my car. You don't have to call everyone to task who misuses the word "literally," you know.
See also: call, task

come to the task with (something)

To provide or offer a useful skill or attribute to some task, activity, project, etc. Don't worry, he comes to the task with years of experience.
See also: come, task

equal to the task

Having the necessary ability, talent, qualities, or capability to handle or accomplish a given role or situation. The young soldier proved equal to the task and saved his platoon from an enemy ambush. We need a manager who can lead project initiatives and efficiently direct employees—do you think you're equal to the task?
See also: equal, task

get taken to task (by someone)

To be scolded, rebuked, reprimanded, or criticized (by someone). I got taken to task by the headmaster for disrupting class again. It's not entirely fair that the bankers are the only ones getting taken to task for the economic collapse, when a great many politicians are to blame as well.
See also: get, taken, task

on task

Focused on and committed to a given task. We've got to stay on task if we want to finish the project before the deadline. I really wish you would stay on task and stop getting sidetracked.
See also: on, task

switch tasking

Shifting one's attention between tasks that are not related to the same overall goal. The phrase is commonly used in the context of work and productivity and is also known as "task switching." In multitasking, the various tasks all contribute to the same goal—in switch tasking, the various tasks are unrelated.
See also: switch, task

take (one) to task

To scold, reprimand, lecture, or hold one accountable for some wrong or error they committed. Mom took me to task over my terrible report card. You don't have to take everyone to task who misuses the word "literally," you know.
See also: take, task

task (one) with (something)

To assign one the responsibility of completing some task. Often used in passive constructions. The boss tasked me with scanning all the documents so that we have a digital copy of each one. The committee was tasked with determining whether there was any criminal negligence involved.
See also: task

task switching

Shifting one's attention between tasks that are not related to the same overall goal. The phrase is commonly used in the context of work and productivity and is also known as "switch tasking." In multitasking, the various tasks all contribute to the same goal—in task switching, the various tasks are unrelated.
See also: switch, task
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

come to the job with something

 and come to the position with something; come to the task with something
to bring a particular quality to a task or job. She comes to the job with great enthusiasm. Ann comes to this position with a lot of experience.
See also: come, job

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 someone to task

reprimand or criticize someone severely for a fault or mistake.
See also: someone, take, task
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

take somebody to ˈtask (about/for/over something)

criticize somebody forcefully (for doing something wrong): I was taken to task for arriving late. She took the Government to task over its economic record. OPPOSITE: give somebody/yourself a pat on the back
See also: somebody, take, task

an uphill ˈstruggle/ˈbattle/ˈtask

something that is difficult and takes a lot of effort over a long period of time: After the recent scandal, he faces an uphill struggle to win back public support before the next election.
See also: battle, struggle, task, uphill
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

task with

v.
To give someone or something some task: The president tasked the committee with investigating the accident. The accounting group was tasked with the responsibility of producing a budget report.
See also: task
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

on task

mod. paying attention to the job at hand. I find it hard to stay on task with all those babes going by.
See also: on, task
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

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
  • cooperate
  • cooperate on (something)
  • work (one's) way through (something)
  • work, etc. your way through something
  • get round to (something)
  • on task
  • take to task, to
  • come to the task with (something)
  • tough/hard/long row to hoe, a
References in periodicals archive
When you've gathered the parts info you need and you're ready to return to the maintenance task, click on the Back button at the bottom left corner of the screen.
If one task seems to be causing a pileup, workers should be flexible enough to help out with that task rather than continuing their own and burying the downstream worker.
The study participants were presented with four search tasks to find related cases in the repository.
To address these issues, the task force recommended three new technical advice processes: (i) a streamlined general advice process, (ii) a case-specific process for providing advice to the field, and (iii) a new category of generic, industry-specific legal advice.
Breaking down the missions into tasks. Complete a task analysis for all tasks requiring human intervention to determine the key components and KSAs necessary.
After the participants performed each task one more time, a final, fourth scan revealed which parts of the brain were active while the subjects performed the task.
The Deployment Support Brigade Installation Team of Task Force Bastogne consists of about 20 to 25 Soldiers at any given time from the 1394th and 1190th Deployment Support Brigades temporarily assigned to Fort Campbell.
Gickling and Thompson's (1985) initial definition of the instructional level was based on research that used academic behaviors, such as time on task, as the dependent variable.
Between 2001 and 2005 this Alliance surveyed 2,500 Certified Dental Assistants, ADA Accredited Dental Assisting Program Directors and 5.000 Dentists in regards to a "task list" of 70 core competencies.
At the time KAFB's basic contract and first task order were awarded in October, 1998, the available guidance (Smith, 1994) did not specifically address ESPCs.
Shortly after the attacks, FBI Director Robert Mueller instructed all FBI field offices to immediately establish formal terrorism task forces.
The report was prepared by the SSTS Quality Control Task Force (chaired by Joe Scutellaro).
The arrangement, called temporary adequate/alternate episcopal oversight (AEO), is recommended in the task force's final report, which was publicly released Mar.
How does LSLI accomplish this task? It all begins with the main computer system for processing logistics information for the Air Force Security Assistance Center, the Security Assistance Management Information System (SAMIS).
In response to the congressional inquiries, the tax executive committee formed a task force to see whether the AICPA needed to address any real or perceived improper behavior by CPAs with regard to tax shelters and whether the eight statements on standards for tax services (SSTSs) adequately addressed abuses.