riot act
Read the rebuke
The Riot Act was an 18th-century British law allowing authorities to disperse crowds by reading a proclamation.
To read someone the riot act is to reprimand them sternly, warning of consequences if behavior doesn't change: My boss read me the riot act about missing deadlines.
The phrase suggests formal severity, an ultimatum delivered with authority.
- warningAlert about danger
- stern warningForceful cautionary statement
- lay down the lawEnforce rules firmly
- crowdLarge public gathering
- civil unrestPublic disturbance by citizens
law · admonition · proclamation · public order · chastisement · upbraiding · protest · statute · tongue-lashing · lecture · rebuke · dressing-down · ordinance · ultimatum · scolding · regulation · unlawful assembly · reprimand
- public orderpublic order, breach of peace, disorderly conduct, unlawful assembly, public nuisance
- reproofsscolding, rebuke, reprimand, admonishment, admonition
- riot controltear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets, pepper spray, crowd control
- safety regulationsOSHA, fire code, building code, hard hat, safety standard
- protest lawunlawful assembly, peaceful assembly, right to protest, assembly rights, freedom of assembly
riot actsoft words
sweet talk · kind words · gentle encouragement · honeyed words
riot actpraise
Expression of approval
commendation · pat on the back · glowing review · accolades · kudos
riot actfree pass
Exemption from consequences
carte blanche · blank check · slap on the wrist · looking the other way · turning a blind eye