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

PARIS—French soccer star Kylian Mbappé became the latest global sports figure to run afoul of China on Tuesday, leading several sponsors to cut ties with him and a state broadcaster to black out his games.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

But the text indicates that U.S. purchasing rights expire in half that time and that the underlying operating rights appear to run afoul of Venezuelan laws limiting oil concessions to 25 years.

From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026

The Bass campaign’s decision came after The Times questioned whether the donations might run afoul of a city law that restricts campaign contributions by city contractors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

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

In Philadelphia, she heard stories about three different runaways who had run afoul of the law, for these stories were being told everywhere —North and South.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

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