- afoul
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In a state of entanglement or conflict with.
He had a knack for running afoul of the law.
See Also: foully
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afoul
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afoul — ☆ afoul [ə foul′ ] adv., adj. in a collision or a tangle run afoul of or fall afoul of 1. to collide with or become entangled with 2. to get into conflict or trouble with … English World dictionary
Afoul — A*foul , adv. & a. [Pref. a + foul.] In collision; entangled. Totten. [1913 Webster] {To run afoul of}, to run against or come into collision with, especially so as to become entangled or to cause injury. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
afoul — (adv.) entangled, 1809, originally nautical, now mainly in phrase to run afoul of; from A (Cf. a ) (1) + FOUL (Cf. foul) … Etymology dictionary
afoul of — preposition : in or into conflict with : in or into opposition to he fell afoul of the law : in or into collision or entanglement with one ship ran afoul of the other * * * /əˈfaʊləv/ adv fall/run afoul of chiefly US : to get into trouble because … Useful english dictionary
afoul — /euh fowl /, adv., adj. 1. in a state of collision or entanglement: a ship with its shrouds afoul. 2. run or come or fall afoul of, a. to become entangled with: The boat ran afoul of the seaweed. b. to come into conflict with: The business had… … Universalium
afoul — adv. to run afoul of (to run afoul of the law) (also foulII) * * * [ə faʊl] to run afoul of (also foul II; to run afoul of the law) … Combinatory dictionary
afoul of — {prep.} 1. In collision with. * /The boat ran afoul of a buoy./ 2. In or into trouble with. * /The thief ran afoul of the night watchman./ * /Speeders can expect to fall afoul of the law sometimes./ … Dictionary of American idioms
afoul of — {prep.} 1. In collision with. * /The boat ran afoul of a buoy./ 2. In or into trouble with. * /The thief ran afoul of the night watchman./ * /Speeders can expect to fall afoul of the law sometimes./ … Dictionary of American idioms
afoul\ of — prep. 1. In collision with. The boat ran afoul of a buoy. 2. In or into trouble with. The thief ran afoul of the night watchman. Speeders can expect to fall afoul of the law sometimes … Словарь американских идиом
afoul — /əˈfaʊl/ (say uh fowl) adjective 1. in a state of collision or entanglement: a ship with its shrouds afoul. –phrase 2. run afoul of, to become involved with to one s disadvantage: run afoul of the law …
afoul — [[t]əfa͟ʊl[/t]] PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you run afoul of someone or something, you do something which causes problems with them. [AM] ...an otherwise law abiding citizen who, if left to his own devices, would never have run afoul of the law … English dictionary
