fall foul of

idiom

: to get into trouble because of failing to do what is required by (the law, a rule, etc.)
After leaving school she fell foul of the law and spent time in jail.
companies that fall foul of labor laws

Examples of fall foul of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Financial services firms that fall foul of the new rules can face fines of up to 2% of annual global revenue. Ryan Browne, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2025 Publishing footage of prisoners of war can fall foul of the Geneva Conventions, or rules for how people can be treated during war. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025 But when will Arteta address the elephant in the room? Money talks: No top-flight clubs fall foul of PSR This time last year, the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) were the enemy of the people, knocking VAR off top spot temporarily. Phil Hay, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025 Li Tie, 47, who played for the English Premier League Everton alongside Wayne Rooney in the early 2000s, is the biggest name to fall foul of a sweeping crackdown on rampant graft in China’s professional soccer league. Nectar Gan, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fall foul of 

Dictionary Entries Near fall foul of

Cite this Entry

“Fall foul of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fall%20foul%20of. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fall foul of

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!