run afoul of

Idioms  

1. Also, run foul of. Come into conflict with, as in If you keep parking illegally you'll run afoul of the police. This expression originated in the late 1600s, when it was applied to a vessel colliding or becoming entangled with another vessel, but at the same time it was transferred to non-nautical usage. Both senses remain current.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

run afoul of

Traditionally, an employer could run afoul of Title VII by imposing policies with a disproportionate impact on one racial group.

From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2026

Ahead of the game, the FAA warned drone operators that they could get their drone seized, face federal criminal charges and fines of up to $100,000 if they run afoul of these restrictions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

Whatever work your business hires your child to do, make sure it does not run afoul of any federal or local labor laws.

From MarketWatch ● May 26, 2026

Over time, the promise of fair pricing became enmeshed with an even loftier assurance: by partnering with “ethical factories,” it would sell better-made clothing in a way that didn’t run afoul of the customer’s morals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026

I hope you haven’t run afoul of too many of them.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland