FOUL PLAY Definition & Meaning

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foul play

noun

any treacherous or unfair dealing, especially involving murder.
We feared that he had met with foul play.
unfair conduct in a game.

foul play

noun

unfair or treacherous conduct esp with violence
a violation of the rules in a game or sport

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of foul play¹

First recorded in 1600–10

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Idioms and Phrases

Unfair or treacherous action, especially involving violence. For example, The police suspected he had met with foul play. This term originally was and still is applied to unfair conduct in a sport or game and was being used figuratively by the late 1500s. Shakespeare used it in The Tempest (1:2): “What foul play had we, that we came from thence?”

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Munich police are investigating but said there was "no evidence to suggest foul play".

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Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported that the cause of the fire is under examination but at this stage foul play is not suspected.

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Officials said there were no obvious signs of foul play or trauma.

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At a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, Underhill accepted he had committed an act of foul play but did not accept it warranted a red card.

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Homicide detectives said an investigation was in its early stages, and declined to identify the deceased person or say whether they suspected foul play.

From

foul one's nest foul pole

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