reads the riot act (to)
phrase
as in scolds
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
The officer read the riot act to her for speeding in a school zone.
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“Reads the riot act (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reads%20the%20riot%20act%20%28to%29. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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