to foul
21
4.5
- verb
- /faʊl/
- - If I did that, everything would be fouled up.
Examples
-
So scheduling got all fouled up by the time I came in from the hospital.
Fiction book (1992) -
If it please the court, our documents seem to be somewhat fouled up.
-
And is this going to foul up something else that might occur?
-
let's not foul this up.
-
- I heard someone say it would be a few minutes yet, because the snow has fouled up the schedule.
-
Government has fouled this up substantially in the past.
-
In addition, urban growth without proper attention to sewage or solid waste disposal has fouled the environment.
Academic text (2000) -
Paperwork, that's what's wrong with the army, that's why we're always fouled up when a war starts.
-
Jimmy's still sleeping, but I'm all fouled up timewise, so I've been up since four o'clock wandering around.
Fiction book (1993) -
The industrial waste has begun to foul the nearby river, making it unsafe for swimming.
Synonyms
83
3.4
To make water, air or land dirty by adding harmful waste
63
4.9
To make things like water or soil unsafe by adding harmful substances
52
3.2
To block a pipe or passage so flow stops
36
8.6
To make something dirty or harm its reputation
23
4.5
To make something dirty with mud or dirt
22
3.7
To block a drain or road so things cannot move through it
20
4.0
Become blocked so things cannot move
12
1.0
To make something unclean or covered with dirt
11
3.5
To make something dirty with mud
4
1.9
Make something dirty with mud or sediment
2
9.4
Make something dirty or spoiled by adding harmful things
1
5.3
To block or fill a place so things cannot move through it
1
9.9
To become blocked or cause a block by dirt and grease
1
9.4
To cover something with dark dirt so it becomes dirty
1
9.9
To cover someone or something with mud
To mark with spots or stains
To make something dirty with mud or dirt
Antonyms
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- Jargon
7
4.3
A penalty called for bad behaviour during play that gives the other team a free throw
- Specialized
6
3.8
A rule break in sport when a player makes illegal rough contact with an opponent
- Specialized
1
2.6
A free throw in basketball taken from the line when an opponent breaks the rules
How Dirty
Surface Forms
Etymology
Foul as a verb meaning to make something dirty comes from the old word fūl 'rotten', so to foul water or a machine is to make it dirty, polluted, or stop it working properly.