foul play

noun

1. any treacherous or unfair dealing, especially involving murder:

   We feared that he had met with foul play.

2. unfair conduct in a game.

foul play

noun

1. unfair or treacherous conduct esp with violence
2. a violation of the rules in a game or sport

Word History and Origins

Origin of foul play¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Idioms and Phrases

Unfair or treacherous action, especially involving violence. For example, The police suspected he had met with foul play . This term originally was and still is applied to unfair conduct in a sport or game and was being used figuratively by the late 1500s. Shakespeare used it in The Tempest (1:2): “What foul play had we, that we came from thence?”

Example Sentences

There was no evidence of foul play when he was found in his cell.

From Quartz

The family of a missing 72-year-old Lorton woman who investigators say may be the victim of foul play pleaded for the public’s help in locating her Tuesday as authorities announced a $20,000 reward in the case.

From Washington Post

People who knew the two women, including Conner’s father, who spoke at the vigil, have said the cause of death for both women had yet to be determined, but there is no evidence of foul play such as physical violence.

From Washington Blade

When he checked in days later and found tire tracks, he figured foul play was afoot.

From Popular-Science

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, officials said, but foul play is not suspected.

From Washington Post

Father Joel Román Salazar died in a car crash in 2013; his death was ruled an accident, but the suspicion of foul play persists.

From The Daily Beast

Miller took particular exception to a post in which Kelley had worried she might fall victim to foul play.

From The Daily Beast

Shahid quietly asked her to lift a finger if foul play had been at work.

From The Daily Beast

While a suicide note has not yet been found, police do not suspect foul play.

From The Daily Beast

And still, there are the still fringe conspiracy theorists who believe there was foul play involved instead.

From The Daily Beast

But it was strongly rumoured that there had been foul play, peculation, even forgery.

From Project Gutenberg

I felt sure there had been foul play of some sort, but Lisa was sure those girls had exchanged the babies' clothes on purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

If there had been foul play, whoever had been concerned in it had removed all traces long ago.

From Project Gutenberg

We are not going to give you in custody, for the coroner found that the man had not died by foul play.

From Project Gutenberg

More faults of the kind were discovered, and as they always happened in the same watch, there was a suspicion of foul play.

From Project Gutenberg