the riot act
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.
There’s great footage of her reading the riot act to a man in one audience.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026
She sang with Muppets, talked with the aliens and read the riot act to Philip Seymour Hoffman.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2024
Smith hammers that point home on the grandiose hymn “Gloria,” but makes it more subtly and effectively on the excellent “No God,” a moody, midtempo R&B number that reads a stubborn ex-lover the riot act.
From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2023
Washington was also a different team in the second half after getting read the riot act by Rivera.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2021
He marched them into his office, closed the door, and read them the riot act.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
