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Glite Dictionary
to run afoul

to run afoul

14 7.9
To get into trouble for breaking rules or laws
  • phrasal verb
  • /rʌn əˈfaʊl/
  • US
translation icon : infringir
  • A whole lot of others probably have run afoul of the statute.
  • run afoul of the law

But I I do want to make this right because a bunch of people pointed out another group of people that I've run afoul of is the knitting community.

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Examples

  • The San Diego and Milwaukee zoos have run afoul of animal rights activists.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Several companies ran afoul of safety regulations, leading to hefty fines.

  • And believe me when I tell you this, you better never run afoul of me.

    Commandments (1997)

  • Do these laws also run afoul of due process?

    Academic text (2017)

  • For the state to twist this into a threat runs afoul of the First Amendment.

    Academic text (2007)

  • You run afoul of Bob, you run afoul of me.

    Life (1999)

  • In the 1950s, Robinson ran afoul of the counter-subversives.

    Academic text (2011)

  • It can put you in legal peril, and that can include running afoul of criminal laws.

    DoctorRamani

  • The Justice Department issues opinions to companies inquiring whether planned specific conduct may run afoul of the FCPA.

    Academic text (2007)

  • We rely on this blog for the best cautionary tales of lawyers who've run afoul of bar discipline authorities.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

to violate
vsto run afoul
627 4.4

Break a law, rule, agreement, or promise

is about coming into conflict with rules or authority rather than only breaking terms
to infringe
vsto run afoul
  • Formal
68 6.8

Break a rule or law and go against someone's rights

is about conflict with rules or authority generally not only rights violations
to run afoul of
vsto run afoul
  • US
23 7.9

To get into trouble with rules or people in charge

is the same idea but used without the extra preposition
to contravene
vsto run afoul
  • Formal
2 8.2

To break a law, rule, or agreement

is similar but stresses getting into trouble with authority rather than formal opposition
to fly in the teeth of
vsto run afoul
  • Archaic
8.6

To openly go against usual rules or advice

is used for coming into conflict but is less formal and more defiant

Antonyms

to obey
411 1.0

Do what someone in charge tells you or follow a rule

to comply
332 3.8

Do what a rule or person asks

How Compliant

to comply
332 3.8
to run afoul
  • US
14 7.9
to violate
627 4.4
to flout
12 7.9
to defy
178 3.7

Surface Forms

run afoul infinitive
running afoul present participle
runs afoul third person singular
ran afoul past
run afoul past participle

Morphology

run + afoul

The meaning 'to come into conflict with' cannot be derived compositionally from 'run' and the rare/formal word 'afoul' — 'afoul' is not a transparent, productive particle and is unlikely to be known by a B1 learner. The phrase is idiomatic (historical a- + foul) and its sense is unpredictable from the constituents, so learners who only know the parts would not reliably infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Run afoul comes from old sailors. When a ship ran into its ropes or got its gear afoul, it was stuck and in trouble, so today run afoul means to 'get into trouble' with rules or people.