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to read sb the riot act
01
to angrily warn or threaten someone so that they will not make the same mistake
What is the origin of the idiom "read someone the riot act" and when to use it?
The idiom "read someone the riot act" traces its origin to a British legal statute known as the Riot Act of 1715. This legislation granted authorities the power to disperse a gathering of 12 or more people unlawfully assembled, demanding that they disperse within an hour. Before taking further action, a proclamation, known as "reading the riot act," was read aloud to the crowd. The idiom has since evolved to signify delivering a stern warning, reprimand, or expression of disapproval to someone for their behavior.
