Read-someone-the-riot-act definition

(idiomatic) To scold or berate somebody; to reprimand.

She really read him the riot act about his smoking habit.

verb
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Origin of read-someone-the-riot-act

  • From read the Riot Act (“give a formal warning to a riotous assembly by reading a prescribed portion of the Riot Act, UK, 1715-1967”)

    From Wiktionary