read (somebody) the Riot Act
idiomPart ofread
read (somebody) the Riot Act — idiom
1. To angrily warn someone that they must stop behaving badly.
1.idiom
Definition
To angrily warn someone that they must stop behaving badly.
Example
The coach read the team the Riot Act after they lost three games in a row.
My mom read me the Riot Act when I came home past midnight.