English / idiom
Read Someone the Riot Act
MEANING IN ENGLISH
To reprimand someone sternly and warn them of serious consequences
In context
01
The head warden read the careless campers the riot act after they left an unextinguished campfire in the dry woods.
02
When the field researcher ignored vital wildlife protection rules, the expedition director read him the riot act.
Synonyms
reprimand sternly,scold severely,give a dressing down
Antonyms
praise,commend,overlook an error
Collocations
prepared to read the riot act,get read the riot act