the riot act
Formal severe rebuke
To read someone the riot act is to scold them severely or warn them about consequences if bad behavior continues: Mom read us the riot act after we broke the window.
The expression comes from a 1714 British law that authorized officials to order crowds to disperse, but today it's purely figurative—a stern reprimand, not a legal document.
- stern warningForceful cautionary statement
- crowdLarge public gathering
- warningAlert about danger
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- final warningLast notice before action
authority · proclamation · reprimand · protest · statute · magistrate · chastisement · crackdown · admonition · lay down the law · order · command · dissent · civil unrest · rebuke · disperse · compliance · threat
the riot actgentle encouragement
Supportive, soft urging
soft words · words of praise · sweet nothings · kid gloves · gentle nudge
the riot actpraise
Expression of approval
commendation · applause · glowing review · accolades · kudos
the riot actcarte blanche
Total freedom to choose
free rein · tacit consent · indulgence · permissiveness · leniency
riot, riots, rioted, rioting, rioter, rioters, riotous, riotously, act