hot off the top of my george carlin daily calendar:
expressions i question
the riot act. they keep saying they're going to read that to you. tell you the truth, have you ever heard this thing at all? ever?
it's especially a problem when you're a kid. they like to threaten you.
"you wait'll your father comes home. he's gonna read you the riot act!"
"oh yeah? well, tell him i already read it myself! and i didn't like it! i consider it wordy and poorly thought out. if he wants to read me somethin', how about the gentleman's guide to the golden age of tongue-kissing?"