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

As with serious foul play, referees have a checklist they go through when assessing a possible elbow.

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In neither case did security officials find signs of foul play.

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On the other hand, missing acts of foul play will also be latched on by coaches and supporters.

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But because no foul play was suspected, authorities were slow to collect and process key evidence at the scene, the family argued.

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Riverside County sheriff’s officials previously said there were no signs of foul play at the scene, and the report confirmed Hodgson had not sustained any injuries or defensive wounds.

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