afoul
in a state of collision or entanglement: a ship with its shrouds afoul.
Idioms about afoul
run / come / fall afoul of,
to become entangled with: The boat ran afoul of the seaweed.
to come into conflict with: The business had fallen afoul of the new government regulations.
Origin of afoul
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for afoul
/ (əˈfaʊl) /
(usually foll by of) in or into a state of difficulty, confusion, or conflict (with)
(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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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