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

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 It was only repealed in 1973