afoul

/ə'faul/
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afoul

The ship's lines became afoul of the anchor.

Definition

  1. Adverb:

    • In a state of entanglement or collision: Used to describe something that is caught, tangled, or in conflict with something else.
    • In a state of conflict or opposition: Used to describe being in violation of or at odds with a rule, law, or another entity.

  2. Adjective (Predicative):

    • Entangled or in collision: Describing a physical state where objects, especially parts of a ship, are tangled or jammed together.
    • In conflict or in violation: Describing a situation where someone or something is in opposition to rules or laws.
Usage

The word afoul is almost always used in the phrase "run afoul of" or "fall afoul of." It is rarely used alone. It describes a situation of conflict, entanglement, or violation.

Examples
  • Adverb / Predicative Adjective:
    • The ship's lines were afoul after the storm. (The ropes were tangled.)
    • He ran afoul of the law by speeding. (He came into conflict with/violated the law.)
    • Their plans fell afoul of new regulations. (Their plans conflicted with/were thwarted by new regulations.)
    • The debate got afoul of personal attacks. (The debate became entangled with/bogged down by personal attacks.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to run afoul of": To come into conflict with or violate a rule, law, or person in authority.
    • The company ran afoul of environmental protection agencies.
  • "to fall afoul of": To become entangled with or to incur the displeasure of someone or something.
    • She fell afoul of her boss by missing the deadline.
Variants and Related Words
  • Foul (adj/verb): The root word. As an adjective, it can mean offensive, entangled, or dirty. As a verb, it means to make dirty or to entangle.
    • The anchor line fouled the propeller. (The line entangled the propeller.)
  • Fouled (adj): Made dirty or entangled.
    • The fouled anchor needed cleaning.
Synonyms
  • In conflict with: At odds with.
  • In violation of: Breaching, contravening.
  • Tangled with: Entangled in, ensnared in.
Related Phrases
  • Run afoul of: (Phrasal verb construction) To collide with, to contravene.
    • The journalist ran afoul of the censorship laws.
  • Fall afoul of: (Phrasal verb construction) To get into trouble with, to become entangled with.
    • He didn't want to fall afoul of the school's strict code of conduct.
Related Idioms
  • Afoul of the law: Specifically describing being in violation of legal statutes.
    • His actions put him afoul of the law.
  • Afoul of one's conscience: In conflict with one's own moral principles.
    • The decision lay afoul of her conscience.
afoul

The ship's lines became afoul of the anchor.

Adjective
  1. especially of a ship's lines etc
    • with its sails afoul
    • a foul anchor

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