meaning of "tavern brawl"
Hi, everyone.

While I read a book titled "Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes by R. L. Stevenson" , I faced the expression 'tavern brawl' as stated as following.

Except for business purposes, or to give each other the lie in a tavern brawl, they have laid aside even the civility of speech.

Does the expression mean very noisy pub?
Please let me exactly know what it is.

Thanks.

Question

meaning of "tavern brawl"
Hi, everyone.

While I read a book titled "Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes by R. L. Stevenson" , I faced the expression 'tavern brawl' as stated as following.

Except for business purposes, or to give each other the lie in a tavern brawl, they have laid aside even the civility of speech.

Does the expression mean very noisy pub? 
Please let me exactly know what it is.

Thanks.

Answer

As Norman says, a tavern brawl is a fight at a pub/tavern/hotel where alcohol is served. Usually those fighting are drunk or influenced by the alcohol they've drunk.

Answer

A "tavern" is another name for a pub, though it is rarely used today.
A "brawl" is a fight.
So a "Tavern brawl" is a fight in a pub.

Answers · 2

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