Search Result for "riot act":
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. a vigorous reprimand;
- Example: "I read him the riot act"

2. a former English law requiring mobs to disperse after a magistrate reads the law to them; 



WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

riot act
    n 1: a vigorous reprimand; "I read him the riot act"
    2: a former English law requiring mobs to disperse after a
       magistrate reads the law to them