read the riot act

read the riot act {v. phr.}

To give someone a strong warning or scolding.

Three boys were late to class and the teacher read the riot act to them.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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See as well

run riot

[run riot] {v. phr.} 1. To act freely or wildly; not control yourself. * /The monkey got out of his cage and ran riot in the pet shop./ * /John […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

call down

[call down] also [dress down] {v.}, {informal} To scold. * /Jim was called down by his teacher for being late to class./ * /Mother called Bob down for walking into […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

riot

[riot] See: [READ THE RIOT ACT], [RUN RIOT]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

act

[act] See: [READ THE RIOT ACT]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

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