riot act

noun

: a vigorous reprimand or warning

—used in the phrase read the riot act

Did you know?

Many people were displeased when George I became king of England in 1714, and his opponents were soon leading rebellions and protests against him. The British government, anxious to stop the protests, passed a law called the "Riot Act." It allowed public officials to break up gatherings of 12 or more people by reading aloud a proclamation, warning those who heard it that they must disperse within the hour or be guilty of a felony punishable by death. By 1819, "riot act" was also being used more generally for any stern warning or reprimand. Although the law long ago fell into disuse and was finally repealed in 1973, the term that it generated lives on today.

Example Sentences

at a specially called meeting, he read the riot act to his staff for their poor handling of the crisis

Recent Examples on the Web During the questioning, Kayla ignores Torres' instructions to wait in the car, and Vance reads her the riot act.

Sara Netzley, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2022 M-Rod and Sanoe Lake come to clean the room Kate Bosworth is a guest in (awkward) and read her the riot act for choosing a guy over surfing.

Emma Specter, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2022 Linda spots her tree amidst the blinding lights and snatches the DJ's mic to read the crowd the riot act.

Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2021 Around 2016, senior SEAL commander Jamie Sands read the East Coast teams the riot act.

Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2021 Bennett short and marches back to the group to read them the riot act.

Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 21 Oct. 2020 Instead of reading him the riot act, Will is understandably enchanted.

Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2020 On May 1, the governor of New Mexico evoked the riot act to block off all exits into Gallup to stop the spread of the virus, and only residents could get in.

Sunny Dooley, Scientific American, 8 July 2020 City officials requested new state of emergency under the riot act that can prohibit people from walking streets and using certain roads.

Joel Shannon, USA TODAY, 2 May 2020 See More

单词	riot acts
释义	riot act noun : a vigorous reprimand or warning —used in the phrase read the riot act Did you know? Many people were displeased when George I became king of England in 1714, and his opponents were soon leading rebellions and protests against him. The British government, anxious to stop the protests, passed a law called the "Riot Act." It allowed public officials to break up gatherings of 12 or more people by reading aloud a proclamation, warning those who heard it that they must disperse within the hour or be guilty of a felony punishable by death. By 1819, "riot act" was also being used more generally for any stern warning or reprimand. Although the law long ago fell into disuse and was finally repealed in 1973, the term that it generated lives on today. Synonyms censure commination condemnation denunciation excoriation objurgation rebuke reprimand reproach reproof stricture See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences at a specially called meeting, he read the riot act to his staff for their poor handling of the crisis Recent Examples on the Web During the questioning, Kayla ignores Torres' instructions to wait in the car, and Vance reads her the riot act. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2022 M-Rod and Sanoe Lake come to clean the room Kate Bosworth is a guest in (awkward) and read her the riot act for choosing a guy over surfing. Emma Specter, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2022 Linda spots her tree amidst the blinding lights and snatches the DJ's mic to read the crowd the riot act. Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2021 Around 2016, senior SEAL commander Jamie Sands read the East Coast teams the riot act. Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2021 Bennett short and marches back to the group to read them the riot act. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 21 Oct. 2020 Instead of reading him the riot act, Will is understandably enchanted. Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2020 On May 1, the governor of New Mexico evoked the riot act to block off all exits into Gallup to stop the spread of the virus, and only residents could get in. Sunny Dooley, Scientific American, 8 July 2020 City officials requested new state of emergency under the riot act that can prohibit people from walking streets and using certain roads. Joel Shannon, USA TODAY, 2 May 2020 See More Word History Etymology the Riot Act, English law of 1715 providing for the dispersal of riots upon command of legal authority First Known Use 1784, in the meaning defined above riot acts noun plural of riot act as in condemnations an often public or formal expression of disapproval at a specially called meeting, he read the riot act to his staff for their poor handling of the crisis Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance condemnations reprimands comminations objurgations censures criticisms excoriations denunciations rebukes lectures punishments reproofs strictures lessons reproaches damnations dressing-downs castigations talking-tos admonitions admonishments remonstrances belittlements chastisements scoldings disparagements raps depreciations pans lashes tongue-lashings businesses deprecations devils Antonyms & Near Antonyms citations endorsements indorsements honors commendations praises tributes sanctions acclamations plaudits eulogies blessings approvals panegyrics encomiums encomia See More
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riot act

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun