Afoul
adverb
In a state of disagreement or conflict.
Their plans ran afoul of local regulations.
Often appears as...
- run afoul
- come afoul
Usage tips
Idiomatic
adverb
To be caught or entangled.
The ship's sails went afoul during the storm.
Often appears as...
- go afoul
- set afoul
adverb
In a state of disagreement or conflict.
Their plans ran afoul of local regulations.
Often appears as...
- run afoul
- come afoul
Usage tips
Idiomatic
adverb
To be caught or entangled.
The ship's sails went afoul during the storm.
Often appears as...
- go afoul
- set afoul
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Conflict Context
Used when describing situations where there's a clash with rules, plans, or opinions.
He found himself afoul of the new company policy.
Pro Tip 2/3Figurative Use
Often used metaphorically to mean 'in trouble' with authority or law.
Since the scandal, the politician's career ran afoul of public opinion.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Outcome
Implies an unfavorable result arising from a conflict or complication.
Their agreement fell afoul of governmental scrutiny.
Compare with
againstamissawrycontraryoppositewrong
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Video examples
Small rockets are the...
because unfortunately, if you can put a satellite into orbit, you can use that rocket for doing significantly nasty things. So quickly, you run afoul of a whole lot of rules and regulations, and international treaties of the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and whatnot.
Video examples
Small rockets are the...
because unfortunately, if you can put a satellite into orbit, you can use that rocket for doing significantly nasty things. So quickly, you run afoul of a whole lot of rules and regulations, and international treaties of the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and whatnot.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Kayleigh McEnany
American Public Servant
History suggests that opposite gender debates, unfortunately, are accompanied by a host of expectations. Each candidate must tread carefully or risk running afoul of the gender stereotype they are subconsciously expected to conform to.
Quote examples
David Brock
American Author
When most people find themselves running afoul of the law, they might change their ways. When the Koch brothers found themselves running afoul of the law, David Koch decided to run for office so that he could change the law.
Quote examples
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Nigerian Writer
There can be an extremist idea of purity. It's so easy to fall afoul of the ridiculously high standard set there.
Quote examples
Kayleigh McEnany
American Public Servant
History suggests that opposite gender debates, unfortunately, are accompanied by a host of expectations. Each candidate must tread carefully or risk running afoul of the gender stereotype they are subconsciously expected to conform to.
Quote examples
David Brock
American Author
When most people find themselves running afoul of the law, they might change their ways. When the Koch brothers found themselves running afoul of the law, David Koch decided to run for office so that he could change the law.
Quote examples
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Nigerian Writer
There can be an extremist idea of purity. It's so easy to fall afoul of the ridiculously high standard set there.
Example 1 of 3
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