Meaning of read someone the riot act | Babel Free

Verb CEFR C2

Definitions

To scold or berate somebody; to reprimand.
idiomatic
To give a formal warning for a riotous assembly to disperse, usually through reading a section of the Riot Act.
British, Commonwealth, archaic, historical

Deutsch die Leviten lesen

Español cantar las cuarenta leer la cartilla regañar

Suomi lukea madonluvut

Français chanter la messe en breton rappeler à l'ordre

Italiano dare una lavata di capo rimproverare

Nederlands iemand de les lezen

Русский устро́ить головомойку

“She really read him the riot act about his smoking habit.”

Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.