afoul

[uh-foul]

adverb

1. in a state of collision or entanglement.

   a ship with its shrouds afoul.

afoul

/ əˈfaʊl /

adverb

1. (usually foll by of) in or into a state of difficulty, confusion, or conflict (with)

2. (often foll by of) in or into an entanglement or collision (with) (often in the phrase run afoul of )

   a yacht with its sails afoul

   the boat ran afoul of a steamer

Word History and Origins

Origin of afoul¹

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10; a- ¹ + foul

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. run / come / fall afoul of,

   1. to become entangled with.

      The boat ran afoul of the seaweed.

   2. to come into conflict with.

      The business had fallen afoul of the new government regulations.

Example Sentences

His Federal Communications Commission chairman hinted at punitive actions against networks whose journalists and comedians run afoul of the president.

From Los Angeles Times

Legal experts told Anita that the move possibly runs afoul of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the military from taking on domestic and immigration law enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times

Then his adopted son, Jesus, and daughter-in-law run afoul of the feds and Easy must also figure out a way to save them from a certain prison sentence.

From Los Angeles Times

"Not only does the strike appear to have violated the prohibition on the use of force, it also runs afoul of the right to life under international human rights law."

From BBC

“We will do that without running afoul of the First Amendment,” Bondi said on Monday.

From Salon