A2Informal
Jemandem die Leviten lesen
In German
Jemandem die Leviten lesen
ˈjeːmandəm diː leˈviːtn̩ ˈleːzn̩
🇬🇧 English
🇪🇸 Español
🇮🇹 Italiano
📖 Literal Translation
To read someone the Leviticus
💡 Meaning
To read someone the riot act; to give someone a dressing down
🌍 Equivalent:"To read someone the riot act; to give someone a dressing down"
📜 Origin:This idiom comes from monastic life. The 'Leviten' (Leviticus) refers to the third book of the Old Testament, which contains many laws and commandments. Reading from it was a way to admonish or correct monks for their transgressions.
Example Sentences
1
Der Lehrer hat dem Schüler die Leviten gelesen, weil er geschummelt hat.
The teacher read the student the riot act because he cheated.
2
Sie sollte ihm mal ordentlich die Leviten lesen, er benimmt sich unmöglich.
She should really give him a dressing down, he's behaving impossibly.