Told off for having cadged a lift to work? (5,2,4)
I believe the answer is:
taken to task
'told off for' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'cadged a lift to work?' is the wordplay.
'cadged a lift' becomes 'taken' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'work?' becomes 'task' (task is a kind of work).
'taken'+'to'+'task'='TAKEN TO TASK'
'having' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for taken to task that I've seen is " Reproved".)