read someone the riot act
To scold or berate somebody; to reprimand.
She really read him the riot act about his smoking habit.
noun
A tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by a large group of people, often involving violence or damage to property.
The protests began peacefully but turned into riots after several days.
A wide and unconstrained variety.
In summer this flower garden is a riot of colour.
The human world is contracting not only prospectively but to the backward-probing eye of culture-history. Nevertheless we are as yet far from able to reduce the riot of spoken languages to a small number of “stocks.”
A humorous or entertaining event or person.
Check this out! We have to get this! I can't believe all this stuff! This is a total riot!
Wanton or unrestrained behavior or emotion.
For when his head-ſtrong Riot hath no Curbe,
Excessive and expensive feasting; wild and loose festivity; revelry.
the lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day
verb
To create or take part in a riot; to raise an uproar or sedition.
The nuclear protesters rioted outside the military base.
To act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge in excess of feasting, luxury, etc.
Now he exact of all, wastes in delight, / Riots in pleasure, and neglects the law.
Think of the insults, wrongs, and contumelies, / Ye bear from your proud lords—that your hard toil / Manures their fertile fields—you plow the earth, / You sow the corn, you reap the ripen'd harvest,— / They riot on the produce!— […]
To cause to riot; to throw into a tumult.
To annoy.