read the riot act

Weak matches

• call on the carpet
• take to task
• tongue-lash

Strongest matches

• berate
• censure
• chastise
• criticize
• excoriate
• flog
• lambaste
• lash
• penalize
• pummel
• punish
• rebuke
• reprimand
• scold
• upbraid

Strong matches

• baste
• beat
• blister
• cane
• chasten
• correct
• discipline
• drub
• flay
• rail
• rate
• ream
• scarify
• scorch
• scourge
• thrash
• whip

Weak matches

• bawl out
• chew out
• come down on
• drag over the coals
• dress down
• jump down one's throat
• lay out
• lean on
• scathe
• tongue-lash

Strongest matches

• declare
• dictate
• enact
• impose
• proclaim

Strong matches

• announce
• command
• compel
• constrain
• decide
• demand
• determine
• force
• oblige
• ordain
• prescribe
• pronounce
• require
• rule
• set

Weak matches

• lay down the law
• put one's foot down

Strongest matches

• govern
• guide
• impose
• lay down
• prescribe

Strong matches

• bid
• bulldoze
• charge
• control
• decree
• direct
• enjoin
• instruct
• lead
• manage
• ordain
• order
• pronounce
• regiment
• rule
• set

Weak matches

• call the play
• call the shots
• call the tune
• lay down the law
• put foot down
• take the reins
• walk heavy

Strongest matches

• adapt
• incline
• predispose
• tempt

Strong matches

• actuate
• adjust
• arrange
• array
• bend
• bias
• condition
• determine
• distribute
• fix
• govern
• group
• induce
• influence
• lead
• locate
• marshal
• motivate
• move
• organize
• prepare
• promote
• prompt
• put
• range
• rank
• regulate
• set
• settle
• shepherd
• stand
• sway
• systematize
• tailor

Weak matches

• call the tune
• lay down the law
• make willing
• methodize
• put one's foot down
• put to rights
• ride herd on
• set in order

Strongest matches

• assail
• berate
• castigate
• excoriate
• scold
• upbraid

Strong matches

• attack
• blister
• bludgeon
• censure
• criticize
• cudgel
• denounce
• flay
• flog
• hammer
• hit
• pan
• pelt
• pound
• pummel
• rebuke
• reprimand
• roast
• scorch
• scourge
• shellac
• slam
• slap
• slash
• smear
• smother
• strike
• thrash
• trim
• wallop
• whip

Weak matches

• lash into
• rake over the coals
• rip into
• scathe

Strong matches

• admonish
• berate
• castigate
• censure
• chide
• condemn
• lambaste
• lecture
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• upbraid

Weak matches

• bawl out
• chew out
• jump down one's throat
• lay into
• take to task