run afoul
Verb (Phrasal Verb): - To come into conflict or opposition with; to violate or act contrary to a rule, law, standard, or person in authority.
This phrasal verb is used to describe a situation where a person's actions, behavior, or plans directly contravene established regulations, laws, or the wishes of someone powerful. It often implies negative consequences as a result of this conflict. The structure is typically: to run afoul of [something/someone].
- The company ran afoul of environmental regulations and faced heavy fines.
- His aggressive business tactics eventually ran afoul of the industry's ethical guidelines.
- Be careful not to run afoul of the new management; they are very strict.
- The phrase often carries a formal or legal tone and is commonly used in contexts involving law, governance, or institutional rules.
- It can also be used in more personal contexts to describe clashing with someone's authority or sensibilities.
- He didn't realize his casual comment would run afoul of his professor's strict views.
- Afoul (Adverb): In a state of collision or conflict. It is almost exclusively used in the phrase "run afoul of."
- Fall afoul of: A less common but synonymous variant of "run afoul of."
- Violate
- Breach
- Infringe
- Transgress
- Clash with
- Come into conflict with
(While "run afoul" is itself a phrasal verb, here are other phrasal verbs with "run" that relate to encountering problems.) - Run into trouble: To encounter difficulties. - The project ran into trouble with its budget. - Run up against: To be faced with an obstacle or opposition. - We ran up against some unexpected legal barriers.
- On the wrong side of the law: Having broken the law.
- Cross the line: To go beyond accepted limits or standards.
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go against, as of rules and laws
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He ran afoul of the law
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This behavior conflicts with our rules
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