Antonyms for take to task


Grammar : Verb
Spell : task, tahsk
Phonetic Transcription : tæsk, tɑsk


Definition of take to task

Origin :
  • c.1300, "piece of work imposed as a duty," from Old North French tasque (13c., Old French tasche, Modern French tâche) "duty, tax," from Vulgar Latin *tasca "a duty, assessment," metathesis of Medieval Latin taxa, a back-formation of Latin taxare "to evaluate, estimate, assess" (see tax). General sense of "any piece of work that has to be done" is first recorded 1590s. Phrase take one to task (1680s) preserves the sense that is closer to tax.
  • German tasche "pocket" is from the same Vulgar Latin source (via Old High German tasca), with presumable sense evolution from "amount of work imposed by some authority," to "payment for that work," to "wages," to "pocket into which money is put," to "any pocket."
  • As in rebuke : verb reprimand; criticize harshly
  • As in reprimand : verb blame, scold
  • As in reproach : verb find fault with
  • As in reprove : verb rebuke
  • As in scold : verb find fault with
  • As in tell off : verb reprimand; criticize harshly
  • As in upbraid : verb scold
  • As in bawl out : verb severely reprimand
  • As in bring to book : verb call to account
  • As in censure : verb condemn; criticize severely
  • As in chasten : verb correct, humiliate
  • As in denounce : verb condemn, attack

Synonyms for take to task

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019