read the riot act to
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She sang with Muppets, talked with the aliens and read the riot act to Philip Seymour Hoffman.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2024
I don’t know if I should because he will read the riot act to them and refuse to go over for the holidays.
From Slate • Nov. 6, 2017
Mr Turnbull said the move exposed a degree of complacency among his colleagues, and that he had "read the riot act" to the ministers.
From BBC • Sep. 1, 2016
Last summer, Sarkozy’s sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, read the riot act to the players at the World Cup, telling them they had damaged the nation’s image.
From New York Times • May 10, 2011
Then Mac called the men together and read the riot act to them.
From The Yukon Trail A Tale of the North by Wolfe, George Ellis