Riot Act
noun
an English statute of 1715 providing that if 12 or more persons assemble unlawfully and riotously, to the disturbance of the public peace, and refuse to disperse upon proclamation they shall be considered guilty of felony.
Idioms for Riot Act
- to reprimand; censure: The principal read them the riot act for their behavior at the assembly.
- to give (someone) a sharp warning.
read (someone) the riot act,
British Dictionary definitions for read the riot act
Riot Act
noun
criminal law
(formerly in England) a statute of 1715 by which persons committing a riot had to disperse within an hour of the reading of the act by a magistrate
read the riot act to someone
to warn or reprimand someone severely
Cultural definitions for read the riot act
read the riot act
To chastise loudly, or to issue a severe warning: “After the students stormed the administration building, the president of the university came out and read them the riot act.” In England, unruly crowds that did not disperse after the Riot Act was read to them became subject to the force of the law.
Idioms and Phrases with read the riot act
read the riot act
Warn or reprimand forcefully or severely, as in When he was caught throwing stones at the windows, the principal read him the riot act. This term alludes to an actual British law, the Riot Act of 1714, which required reading a proclamation so as to disperse a crowd; those who did not obey within an hour were guilty of a felony. [First half of 1800s]