Read the Riot Act

2024-03-03

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1
  • And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
  • 2
  • In life, there are times when we must tell others about their bad behavior or unsafe actions.
  • 3
  • Sometimes that means giving them a strongly worded warning or scolding them. We can also read them the riot act.
  • 4
  • A riot is a violent public disorder. And that is where the expression comes from.
  • 5
  • The Merriam-Webster online dictionary says it dates back to the early 1700s England, when opponents of King George I began a series of protests.
  • 6
  • The British government wanted to stop the protests. So, they passed a law called the "Riot Act."
  • 7
  • It permitted officials to break up gatherings of 12 or more people by reading a speech out-loud.
  • 8
  • If the protestors did not leave, they would be guilty of a crime punishable by death.
  • 9
  • By 1819, "riot act" was also being used more generally for any severe warning or reprimand.
  • 10
  • The law is no longer enforced across the pond, as we sometimes refer to Britain.
  • 11
  • But the term to read the riot act is still alive and well today.
  • 12
  • We read someone the riot act to severely scold them. Reading the riot act can include some shouting - and, in fact, often does.
  • 13
  • We can use this expression in just about any situation where someone has made a big mistake - at work, with our friends, and with our family.
  • 14
  • Now, let's hear it used between two friendly coworkers who are talking about a family situation.
  • 15
  • A: Wow, who was that on the phone? I could hear her yelling at you all the way over here.
  • 16
  • B: It was my aunt reading me the riot act.
  • 17
  • A: Why? What did you do?
  • 18
  • B: Well, I forgot to go to her house for dinner last night. And she made all my favorite dishes.
  • 19
  • A: Oh. That is a big mistake. I'm not surprised she read you the riot act.
  • 20
  • B: And it was her birthday.
  • 21
  • A: Oh wow. I'm surprised she is still speaking to you.
  • 22
  • B: I know! I feel awful! So, to make it up to her, I'm taking her out to dinner at a restaurant that serves HER favorite dishes.
  • 23
  • If VOA Learning English stopped teaching English, our listeners would have every right to read us the riot act.
  • 24
  • And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
  • 25
  • Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
  • 1
  • And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
  • 2
  • In life, there are times when we must tell others about their bad behavior or unsafe actions. Sometimes that means giving them a strongly worded warning or scolding them. We can also read them the riot act.
  • 3
  • A riot is a violent public disorder. And that is where the expression comes from.
  • 4
  • The Merriam-Webster online dictionary says it dates back to the early 1700s England, when opponents of King George I began a series of protests.
  • 5
  • The British government wanted to stop the protests. So, they passed a law called the "Riot Act." It permitted officials to break up gatherings of 12 or more people by reading a speech out-loud. If the protestors did not leave, they would be guilty of a crime punishable by death. By 1819, "riot act" was also being used more generally for any severe warning or reprimand.
  • 6
  • The law is no longer enforced across the pond, as we sometimes refer to Britain. But the term to read the riot act is still alive and well today.
  • 7
  • We read someone the riot act to severely scold them. Reading the riot act can include some shouting - and, in fact, often does.
  • 8
  • We can use this expression in just about any situation where someone has made a big mistake - at work, with our friends, and with our family.
  • 9
  • Now, let's hear it used between two friendly coworkers who are talking about a family situation.
  • 10
  • A: Wow, who was that on the phone? I could hear her yelling at you all the way over here.
  • 11
  • B: It was my aunt reading me the riot act.
  • 12
  • A: Why? What did you do?
  • 13
  • B: Well, I forgot to go to her house for dinner last night. And she made all my favorite dishes.
  • 14
  • A: Oh. That is a big mistake. I'm not surprised she read you the riot act.
  • 15
  • B: And it was her birthday.
  • 16
  • A: Oh wow. I'm surprised she is still speaking to you.
  • 17
  • B: I know! I feel awful! So, to make it up to her, I'm taking her out to dinner at a restaurant that serves HER favorite dishes.
  • 18
  • If VOA Learning English stopped teaching English, our listeners would have every right to read us the riot act.
  • 19
  • And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
  • 20
  • Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
  • 21
  • Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.
  • 22
  • _______________________________________________
  • 23
  • Words in This Story
  • 24
  • scold - v. to find fault noisily or angrily : to criticize severely or angrily
  • 25
  • reprimand - n. severe or formal criticism
  • 26
  • across the pond - idiomatic expression the other side of the Atlantic Ocean
  • 27
  • We want to hear from you. Do you have a similar expressions in your language? In the Comments section, you can also practice using any of the expressions from the story. Our comment policy is here.