foul
1
8.2
- adjective
- /faʊl/
- Specialized
- The crew struggled to free the line that was foul around the mooring post after the storm passed.
Examples
-
Was he the victim of foul play?
Fiction book (2002) -
And missing persons turned up some evidence that qualified the disappearance as foul play.
Fiction book (2002) -
It is late, and I fear you have come through the streets in foul weather.
Fiction book (1993) -
The disappearance of Ponter has suggested foul play, at least to Dakar Bolbay.
Fiction book (2002) -
By foul craft, Saruman has crossed Orcs with Goblin-men.
-
Trevor, barring the more outrageous aspects of your claim, you are not the only widower the police have questioned when foul play is suspected.
Fiction book (2002) -
He descended to a nasty subtunnel and found himself knee-deep in foul water, but at least there'd be none of her security cameras down here.
Fiction book (2002) -
There were foul aromas, gaseous smells, fruity smells, chemical smells, smells he couldn't even begin to identify.
Fiction book (2002) -
When navigating the harbor, it is crucial to avoid areas where the ropes can become foul and cause delays.
-
During the storm, the ship's anchor became foul in the rough seas, preventing us from moving.
Synonyms
14
9.9
Tangled, or in trouble because of a conflict, often said of ropes on a ship
1
7.5
Tangled and caught so it cannot move, usually for ropes or anchors
Antonyms
Idioms
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 Entangled
Surface Forms
Etymology
Foul in nautical use for ropes or anchors that are twisted or caught comes from the same old idea of things being 'made messy' in old English fūl, so a foul anchor is one that is stuck or entangled and cannot work freely.