Carpeting tripped tot heading off toddling inside (7-2)
I believe the answer is:
talking-to
'carpeting' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'tripped tot heading off toddling inside' is the wordplay.
'tripped' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'tripping' mean this).
'heading off' means to remove the first letter.
'toddling' becomes 'walking' (how a toddler walks).
'inside' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'walking' with its first letter taken away is 'alking'.
'tot' is an anagram of 'tto'.
'tto' going around 'alking' is 'TALKING-TO'.
(Other definitions for talking-to that I've seen before include "Sharp reprimand (colloq.)" , "Criticism from one in authority" , "Ticking-off" , "Give someone a good ....... .. as a reproof" , "Dressing-down" .)