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Region: UK / US | Usage example: The coach read the team the riot act after the third loss.

Read someone the riot act

Meaning

Scold someone severely to discourage bad behavior.

Usage

Used when issuing a stern warning.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

England's 1714 Riot Act required crowds to disperse or face arrest.

Phrase appears in newspapers describing the actual act being read aloud.

Related Idioms

Read someone like a book

Understand someone easily.

Eat someone out of house and home

Consume so much that one drains another's resources.

Give someone the cold shoulder

Ignore or snub someone intentionally.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.