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
But in May, after more than 16 hours of testimony, a Howard County hearing examiner sided with the residents, ruling that the quarry had run afoul of its conditions with the county by causing a nuisance to residents, citing concerns about the blasting, dust and pollution impacts on a stream.
—
Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2024
Rosen insisted that doing so would run afoul of the law and the Constitution.
—Philip Bump, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
The case alleges the restrictions violate the teachers’ First Amendment rights and run afoul of a federal civil-rights law.
—Dara Kam, Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2024
Athletes who promote crypto assets on social media in ways that run afoul of the Securities and Exchange Commission could also see efforts to challenge the SEC strengthened.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fall/run afoul of 
Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2024
Rosen insisted that doing so would run afoul of the law and the Constitution.
—Philip Bump, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
The case alleges the restrictions violate the teachers’ First Amendment rights and run afoul of a federal civil-rights law.
—Dara Kam, Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2024
Athletes who promote crypto assets on social media in ways that run afoul of the Securities and Exchange Commission could also see efforts to challenge the SEC strengthened.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fall/run afoul of
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fall/run afoul of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Fall/run afoul of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fall%2Frun%20afoul%20of. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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