foul play
46
5.3
- noun
- /faʊl pleɪ/
:
actividad delictiva
- We assumed these two were the victims of foul play.
- suspect foul play
Looks like this is a case of foul play.
- Looks like this is a case of foul play.
- And if they decided that it was no foul play, there's no need for an autopsy, then they're going to call us and we're going to come get you.
- There is no evidence of foul play nor was there any evidence of at least externally, of salt water drowning.
- You know they're saying it was there was no foul play then there's no need to hide anything.
- How could you come out-of-the-box saying we don't see any foul play here?
- I suspect foul play, but this fish moved with me to three different locations.
Examples
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Other than that, we have, uh, no reason to suspect foul play.
-
The cause of death has not been determined, but foul play has not been ruled out.
-
At least we know there was no foul play involved.
-
There are no signs of foul play here.
-
There were no signs of animal attack or foul play.
Academic text (1994) -
Was he the victim of foul play?
Fiction book (2002) -
Although there has been no evidence of foul play the criminal investigation is ongoing.
-
Police said that foul play was suspected.
Academic text (1999) -
Police aren't yet saying if foul play was involved.
-
The investigation concluded that there was no foul play involved in the accident.
Synonyms
131
4.6
Wrong behavior by someone in a trusted job
12
6.0
Secret dishonest actions that harm or make someone look bad, often in politics and business
8
8.6
Secret or dishonest actions that try to cheat people
1
7.0
Actions that break the law or are unfair
1
6.3
Dishonest behavior in business or money matters
Actions that cheat people to get their money
Antonyms
16
3.0
Honest behavior that treats everyone the same and follows the rules in sport or competition
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
foul + play
The phrase is compositional: 'foul' conveys something wrong or unfair and 'play' can mean an action or behaviour, so 'foul play' plausibly reads as wrongful or dishonest action. Although used in forensic contexts to mean criminal violence, the overall meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a common noun-noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows the parts is likely to understand it.
Etymology
Foul play likely comes from putting together foul (meaning dirty or unfair) and play (an action in a game). Imagine a referee shouting 'foul!' when a player cheats or hits someone; that clear image of a wrong or violent action is why foul play now means 'unlawful, dishonest, or violent behavior' that suggests a crime.