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Akdom Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

Fracas, brawl, quarrel

fracas, brawl, quarrel

How, in what situation, to use these vocabularies?

I see Emotion: beerbarfracasEmotion: beer being used. Does fracas involve physical violence?

Dictionary.com says:

fracas is a noisy quarrel.

fracas is a riotous brawl.

and etymology of fracas [Early 18th century. < French, "crash, roar" < Italian fracassare "cause an uproar"]

And since quarrel comes from [Via French< Latin querela "complaint"]. So maybe quarrel is less violent?

Can you teach me when to use which? thank youEmotion: beer

e.g.

My wife and I had a (fracas/brawl/quarrel)?
  

Top answer

Hi, Both 'fracas' and 'brawl' sound rather physical to me. 'Fracas' is, in my opinion, mainly a feature of American English. 'Quarrel' can be non-physical, so that's what I usually say.

— Clive

  • Hi, Both 'fracas' and 'brawl' sound rather physical to me.
  • 'Fracas' is, in my opinion, mainly a feature of American English.
  • 'Quarrel' can be non-physical, so that's what I usually say.
  • Clive
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1 Answers
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Hi,

Both 'fracas' and 'brawl' sound rather physical to me.



'Fracas' is, in my opinion, mainly a feature of American English.




'Quarrel' can be non-physical, so that's what I usually say.



Clive
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