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read the riot act
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
Example Sentences
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.
She sang with Muppets, talked with the aliens and read the riot act to Philip Seymour Hoffman.
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."
Health Minister Eluned Morgan has said she read the "riot act" to executives but didn't have the power to sack them.
“He definitely gets pulled aside and read the riot act,” Roday told me.
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