fall/run afoul of
idiom
chiefly US
: to get into trouble because of not obeying or following (the law, a rule, etc.)
After leaving home he fell afoul of the law.
an investor who has run afoul of stock market rules
Examples of fall/run afoul of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Two researchers mentioned worries about grants that won't run afoul of any of the categories mentioned by the OMB but simply used language that conservatives have objected to.
—
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
While the Printz decision would seem to bar the Justice Department from acting on its threats, the court could rule that given the federal government’s nearly exclusive power over immigration, such actions do not run afoul of the anti-commandeering doctrine.
—Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
The team could argue league rules prohibiting teams from paying players run afoul of antitrust law, especially since no-pay restrictions are no longer necessary for preserving NCAA eligibility.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Last month, ProPublica reported that the Federal Trade Commission is investigating the company in a probe that will examine whether the company’s business practices have run afoul of antitrust laws.
—Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fall/run afoul of 
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.
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
While the Printz decision would seem to bar the Justice Department from acting on its threats, the court could rule that given the federal government’s nearly exclusive power over immigration, such actions do not run afoul of the anti-commandeering doctrine.
—Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
The team could argue league rules prohibiting teams from paying players run afoul of antitrust law, especially since no-pay restrictions are no longer necessary for preserving NCAA eligibility.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Last month, ProPublica reported that the Federal Trade Commission is investigating the company in a probe that will examine whether the company’s business practices have run afoul of antitrust laws.
—Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fall/run afoul of
Dictionary Entries Near fall/run afoul of
Cite this Entry
“Fall/run afoul of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fall%2Frun%20afoul%20of. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share