brawl
A noisy, rough, and uncontrolled fight that usually involves several people in a public place. It can refer to the physical struggle itself or the act of participating in such a fight.
Examples
3 of 5The police were called to break up a brawl that started outside the nightclub.
The police were called to break up a brawl that started outside the nightclub.
The witness provided a detailed account of the brawl that erupted following the political rally.
The witness provided a detailed account of the brawl that erupted following the political rally.
Things got crazy at the game and a massive brawl broke out in the stands.
Things got crazy at the game and a massive brawl broke out in the stands.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'brawl' as a 'ball' of people 'rawling' (fighting) on the ground. The 'b' is for big, and 'rawl' sounds like 'raw' energy.
Quick Quiz
The referee had to intervene when a ______ broke out between the players on the field.
Correct!
The correct answer is: brawl
Examples
The police were called to break up a brawl that started outside the nightclub.
everydayThe police were called to break up a brawl that started outside the nightclub.
The witness provided a detailed account of the brawl that erupted following the political rally.
formalThe witness provided a detailed account of the brawl that erupted following the political rally.
Things got crazy at the game and a massive brawl broke out in the stands.
informalThings got crazy at the game and a massive brawl broke out in the stands.
Historical records indicate that the brawl between the two factions led to a significant shift in local governance.
academicHistorical records indicate that the brawl between the two factions led to a significant shift in local governance.
Although the negotiations were heated, the partners managed to resolve their differences without a public brawl.
businessAlthough the negotiations were heated, the partners managed to resolve their differences without a public brawl.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
pick a brawl
to deliberately start a fight
drawn into a brawl
to become involved in a fight unintentionally
free-for-all brawl
a fight where anyone can join and there are no rules
Often Confused With
Sprawl refers to spreading out in an untidy way, while brawl refers to a physical fight.
A quarrel is usually a verbal argument, whereas a brawl is typically physical and violent.
Usage Notes
The word is most commonly used to describe group fights in public settings rather than a private or one-on-one boxing match. It carries a connotation of chaos and lack of discipline.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'brawl' to describe a simple disagreement; remember that 'brawl' almost always implies physical contact and noise.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'brawl' as a 'ball' of people 'rawling' (fighting) on the ground. The 'b' is for big, and 'rawl' sounds like 'raw' energy.
Word Origin
Derived from the Middle English 'brallen', meaning to cry out or boast, possibly related to the Dutch 'brallen'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Brawls are frequently mentioned in news reports regarding sports hooliganism or late-night incidents in entertainment districts.
Quick Quiz
The referee had to intervene when a ______ broke out between the players on the field.
Correct!
The correct answer is: brawl
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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