foul play

American  

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.

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foul play British  

noun

1. unfair or treacherous conduct esp with violence

2. a violation of the rules in a game or sport

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foul play Idioms  

1. 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?”

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Etymology

Origin of foul play

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Officials suspected foul play and began an investigation.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC

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

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times