Criticised, as bit of toast found in butter (3,2)
I believe the answer is:
got at
'criticised' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'bit of toast found in butter' is the wordplay.
'bit of' indicates taking the first letters.
'found in' is an insertion indicator.
'butter' becomes 'goat' (animal which butts).
The initial letter of 'toast' is 't'.
't' put within 'goat' is 'GOT AT'.
'as' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for got at that I've seen before include "Attacked verbally" , "Criticised" , "Nobbled" , "Unfairly influenced" .)