read the riot act

1. To chastise loudly, or to issue a severe warning: “After the students stormed the administration building, the president of the university came out and read them the riot act.” In England, unruly crowds that did not disperse after the Riot Act was read to them became subject to the force of the law.

Idioms and Phrases

Warn or reprimand forcefully or severely, as in When he was caught throwing stones at the windows, the principal read him the riot act. This term alludes to an actual British law, the Riot Act of 1714, which required reading a proclamation so as to disperse a crowd; those who did not obey within an hour were guilty of a felony. [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

She said she was told he had been "read the riot act" but had no formal punishment.

From BBC

Vinicius Jr looked far more committed to the cause in Real's match against Atletico at the weekend, having been read the riot act by Luka Modric and Federico Valverde for failing to give his best during the club's quarter-final Copa del Rey match at Leganes.

From BBC

She sang with Muppets, talked with the aliens and read the riot act to Philip Seymour Hoffman.

From Los Angeles Times

He added that the "idiocy" of Mr Hancock's response, as well as then-attorney general Suella Braverman, risked undermining Covid laws, adding: "I'm ready to read the riot act as required."

From BBC

Health Minister Eluned Morgan has said she read the "riot act" to executives but didn't have the power to sack them.

From BBC

Related Words

• berate 
• censure 
• chastise 
• criticize 
• excoriate 
• flog 
• lambaste 
• lash 
• penalize 
• pummel 
• punish 
• rebuke 
• reprimand 
• scold 
• upbraid