A step is heralded by glasses round Hi, everyine. What does 'A step is heralded by glasses round' mean? For me it seem that a preparation is presented by people who drinks altogether. Am I right?

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.

provide A B Hi, everyone. As far as I know, 'provide' is used in these ways: 'provide A with B' or provide 'A to B' But, in the following sentence, "Blockchain technology provides suppliers of these services a means to collaborate", 'provide' is used without 'with' or 'to'. Can it be used in this way? Thank you for you help.

"Take out appendix" In the following paragraph, what does it mean to "take out your appendix"? This is boring but important, for debt is a cosmic or "big picture" lesson. What about other forms of debt, like credit cards? I got my first card when I was in basic training in the Army Medical Corps. (I actually know how to take out your appendix.) I have no idea what it means in the context-just guess it might attract their attention. Please let me know what it is exactly. Thank you so much.

where the waters slurried into a pool and turned slowly in a gray foam Hi, everyone. What does the follwing sentence mean, "he stood on a stone bridge where the waters slurried into a pool and turned slowly in a gray foam"? Because the verb "slurry" is transitive, I guess the verb is omitted. Am I right? Thanks you for your help in advance.

Pull oneself together Hi, everyone. I know that to pull himself toghether means that he calms down his mind back. But in the following sentence , "he pulled himself together so that he seemed even smaller", it is same meaning that I know? (The full text abstracted in Guns, Germs, and steel is that: As the young doctor watched, the husband turned red, pulled himself together so that he seemed even smaller, tried to disappear under his bed sheets, and stammered in a barely audible voice.) I could not find out any corelations 'between pulled himself together' and 'he seemed even smaller'. I appreciate your help in advance.

"Leaving the ruins of a standing wall" Hi, everyone. Does 'leaving the ruins' serve as a modifier or a participial construction in following setence: 'Soldiers climbed into the roof before the hospital and storehouse buildings were burned to the ground, leaving the ruins of a standing wall as sole protection agaist the ouside'. It seem to me that soldiers left the ruins, but someone told to me that the buildings left the ruins. Which one is correct ? I sincerely appreciate your reply in advance.