Take to task, looking embarrassed about prudish article (9)
I believe the answer is:
reprimand
'take to task' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'looking embarrassed about prudish article' is the wordplay.
'looking embarrassed' becomes 'red' (I've seen this before).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'prudish' becomes 'prim' ('prim' can be a synonym of 'prudish').
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
'prim'+'an'='priman'
'red' placed around 'priman' is 'REPRIMAND'.
(Other definitions for reprimand that I've seen before include "Formal censure" , "Severe reproof" , "Expression of disapproval" , "Severe telling-off" , "telling off" .)