(the) Riot Act

(the) Riot Act
the Riot Act [the Riot Act]
a British ↑Act of Parliament, passed in 1715, which allowed the government to use force to control public protest or disorder. During any such disturbance an official could read part of the Act ordering people to leave a place. To read the riot act is an expression which means to warn someone forcefully to stop doing something: (humor)

If she comes home late again I’m going to read (her) the riot act

Compare ↑Public Order Act

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • read the riot act — phrasal 1. : to order (as a mob) to disperse 2. a. : to issue a peremptory order or warning to cease doing something b. : to protest vehemently : express great objection c. : to reprimand severely * * * read the …   Useful english dictionary

  • read someone the riot act — read (someone) the riot act to strongly warn someone to stop behaving badly. Alice read Randi the riot act, telling her, “If you don t like it here, you can just go back where you came from.” The secretary of state said she plans to read the riot …   New idioms dictionary

  • read the riot act — read (someone) the riot act to strongly warn someone to stop behaving badly. Alice read Randi the riot act, telling her, “If you don t like it here, you can just go back where you came from.” The secretary of state said she plans to read the riot …   New idioms dictionary

  • read someone the riot act — read (someone) the riot act see ↑riot, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑read read (someone) the riot act : to speak in an angry and critical way to (someone who has done something wrong) : to tell (someone) that bad behavior will be severely punished if it… …   Useful english dictionary

  • read the riot act — Meaning Warn roudy characters to stop behaving badly. Origin In English law the control of unruly citizens was the responsibility of local magistrates. If more than twelve people didn t disperse after the Riot Act was read to them the magistrate… …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • read the riot act —    If you declare with force and authority that something must stop, and announce the consequences if it happens again, you read the riot act.     Dad read us the riot act when we messed up his tool shed …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • read someone the riot act — read (someone) the riot act to speak angrily to someone about something they have done and warn them that they will be punished if they do it again. He d put up with a lot of bad behaviour from his son and thought it was time to read him the riot …   New idioms dictionary

  • read the riot act — read (someone) the riot act to speak angrily to someone about something they have done and warn them that they will be punished if they do it again. He d put up with a lot of bad behaviour from his son and thought it was time to read him the riot …   New idioms dictionary

  • read someone the riot act — If you read someone the riot act, you give them a clear warning that if they don t stop doing something, they will be in serious trouble …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • read the Riot Act — ► read the Riot Act give a severe warning or reprimand. [ORIGIN: from the name of a former act partly read out to disperse rioters.] Main Entry: ↑riot …   English terms dictionary

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