Riot Act Hear it!

Riot Act definition

Riot Act

an English law, passed in 1715, providing that if twelve or more persons are unlawfully assembled and disturbing the public peace they must disperse on proclamation (reading the Riot Act) or be held guilty of felony
Riot Act Idioms

read the riot act to

to command to stop doing something regarded as wrong, under threat of punishment

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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