Fig.: to reprimand strongly

I should have been home by 11 p.m. but I got home at 2 in the morning. My father was waiting for me and read me the Riot Act

Sarei dovuta rientrare per le 11 di sera, ma sono rincasata alle 2 del mattino. Mio padre mi stava aspettando e mi ha dato una bella strigliata

When my mother would call me by my full name, I knew she was mad at me and ready to read me the Riot Act

Quando mia madre mi chiamava con il mio nome per intero, sapevo che era arrabbiata con me e stava per darmi una bella ripassata

At 3:00 a.m. on a weekday, Bob was still wide-awake due to his neighbors' booming music, so he went knocking on their door and began delivering the Riot Act

Alle 3:00 del mattino di un giorno feriale, Bob era ancora completamente sveglio a causa della musica a tutto volume dei suoi vicini, così dopo aver bussato alla loro porta, li ha rimproverati duramente

The Riot Act of 1716 stated that a group of twelve or more people must disperse if someone in authority read a portion of the act out loud to them. It was only repealed in 1973.