fracas
FRAY-kus
/ˈfreɪkəs/
A noisy disturbance or quarrel; a brawl.
A fracas usually involves multiple people and often physical scuffling. It is loud, messy, and chaotic.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Italian 'fracassare', meaning to smash or shatter. It entered English via French, bringing with it the sense of things being broken and a loud, crashing noise.
Word relationships
- brawl: A brawl is more explicitly violent; a fracas can just be a very noisy, chaotic argument.
- tranquility: The quality or state of being calm.
Commonly confused with
- altercation: An altercation is usually verbal; a fracas often spills into physical shoving or chaos.
Collocations
- minor fracas
- general fracas
- spark a fracas
Example sentences
- "The referee's controversial decision sparked a fracas on the field involving players from both teams." A chaotic scene at a sporting event.
Memory hook
A fracas is so loud it might 'fracture' your eardrums. Fracas: A noisy smash-up.
When not to use
Don't use for a quiet, intellectual debate; a fracas is always noisy.
Fun facts
- Despite its chaotic meaning, 'fracas' is often used in very formal British journalism.
Related words
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