take to task

take to task
    v 1: 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}, {take to
         task}, {rebuke}, {rag}, {trounce}, {reproof}, {lecture},
         {reprimand}, {jaw}, {dress down}, {call down}, {scold},
         {chide}, {berate}, {bawl out}, {remonstrate}, {chew out},
         {chew up}, {have words}, {lambaste}, {lambast}]
    

70 Moby Thesaurus words for "take to task":
      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, denounce, denunciate, discipline, fasten on,
      fasten upon, finger, hang something on, have words with, impeach,
      imply, impute, indict, inflict upon, inform against, inform on,
      insinuate, lay charges, lecture, lodge a complaint, lodge a plaint,
      masthead, objurgate, penalize, pillory, pin on, prefer charges,
      press charges, punish, put on report, rate, rebuke, report,
      reprehend, reprimand, reproach, reprove, scold, set down,
      set straight, settle with, spank, square accounts, straighten out,
      take down, task, taunt with, tax, twit, upbraid, visit upon