read someone the riot act

动词 v.
中文释义

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. To scold or berate somebody; to reprimand. figuratively
    — She really read him the riot act about his smoking habit.
  2. To give a formal warning for a riotous assembly to disperse, usually through reading a section of the Riot Act. Commonwealth,UK,archaic,historical
    — ‘Nothing but vigorous measures will do in these times, Grummer,’ said the magistrate, in a determined manner. ‘If the authority of the king’s officers is set at naught, we must have the riot act read. If the civil power cannot protect these windows, Grummer, the military must protect the civil power, and the windows too.

词形变化

reads someone the riot act present,singular,third-person reading someone the riot act participle,present read someone the riot act participle,past read someone the riot act past read the riot act alternative read the Riot Act alternative read someone the Riot Act alternative

词源

The Riot Act is a historical British Act of Parliament enacted in 1714, which stated that once a statutory warning was read out to rioters and they failed to disperse within one hour, then authorities may use any force to disperse them with impunity.
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