- To criticize, reprimand, or censure someone formally or sternly for a fault, mistake, or wrongdoing.
- Implies holding someone accountable for their actions or lack thereof.
Explanation
Origin
- An older idiom, dating back several centuries.
- Historically, a task could refer not just to work but also to a burden, duty, or even a charge or accusation.
- Taking someone to task likely evolved from the idea of bringing someone before authority to account for their responsibilities or alleged failings, essentially assigning them the task of answering for their actions.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Call someone out. (Often more public, less formal authority)
- Dress someone down. (Stern scolding)
- Read someone the riot act. (Stern warning/reprimand)
- Put someone in their place. (Rebuke someone seen as overstepping bounds)
- Give someone shit. (Vulgar harass/criticize)
Vulgar/Emphatic (Often implies more anger):
- Chew someone out. / Ream someone out.
- Lay into someone. / Tear into someone.
Milder/More Formal Synonyms:
- Reprimand. / Rebuke. / Censure.
- Criticize formally.
- Raise formal objections to someone's conduct.
- Hold someone accountable/responsible.
- Issue a formal critique.
Situational Appropriateness
- Generally used to describe criticism in more formal, official, or serious contexts (e.g., official reports, committee hearings, formal reviews, serious journalism, stern management discussions).
- It sounds more formal and less emotional than informal alternatives like chew out. Using it implies a level of authority or justification for the criticism.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Due to its somewhat formal phrasing, learners might underestimate the severity. Clarify that it implies strong, justified criticism or reprimand, not just a casual complaint.
Examples
- The investigative report took the government agency to task for its slow response.
- The manager took the employee to task over his repeated tardiness.
- Environmental groups took the company to task for pollution levels.
Dialogue
Journalist 1: Did you see the editorial in today's paper?
Journalist 2: Yes, the one taking the city council to task over the budget deficit? It was sharp.
Journalist 1: Very sharp. They didn't pull any punches, outlining all the questionable spending decisions.
Journalist 2: It will be interesting to see how the council responds.
Social Media Examples
- News commentary: Good piece by @ReporterName taking the commission to task for ignoring safety warnings. #journalism #accountability
- Business discussion: The annual report takes management to task for failing to innovate quickly enough. #business #strategy
- Activism: We need to continually take polluters to task and demand change. #environment #climateaction
Response Patterns
- From the person/entity taken to task: Defending their actions, offering explanations or justifications, accepting the criticism and promising change, making apologies, or dismissing the criticism.
- From observers: Agreeing with the criticism (It's about time someone did!), discussing the validity of the points raised, commenting on the potential consequences.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Discussion of the specific criticisms or failures highlighted.
- Examination of the response or defense offered by the party taken to task.
- Consideration of remedies, consequences, or necessary changes resulting from the critique.
- Further investigation or monitoring of the issue.
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes a specific action of formal or stern criticism.
Intonation
- Usually said with a serious, formal, or stern tone, reflecting the critical nature of the action.
- Stress often on TOOK (or take) and TASK. They TOOK the director to TASK.
Generation Differences
- Understood by most adults, but its usage frequency might be higher in formal writing, professional environments, or among those familiar with more traditional idioms. Might sound slightly formal or even a bit dated in very casual conversation.
Regional Variations
- Used across major English-speaking regions. May feel slightly more common or natural in British English and more formal registers of American English.