jemandem den Marsch blasen
to give someone a loud telling-off; to read someone the riot act
Origin
Comes from soldiers' language: 'blowing for the march' was the loud trumpet/horn signal for the troop to set off, which had to be obeyed immediately. Attested since the early 19th century.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Examples
Als er dritten zu kam, hat ihm der den geblasen.
When he was late for the third time, the boss really read him the riot act.