Run Afoul (Verb)
Meaning
Go against, as of rules and laws; "He ran afoul of the law"; "This behavior conflicts with our rules".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The rebellious teenager ran afoul of her strict parents' rules by sneaking out of the house to attend a late-night concert.
- By failing to file his taxes on time, he inadvertently ran afoul of the Internal Revenue Service.
- Her harsh criticism of the company's policies ran afoul of the corporate leaders who felt threatened by her words.
- Smuggling undeclared items through customs is an offense that can easily run afoul of international law.
- The new employee's bold approach to problem-solving ran afoul of traditional corporate protocol, causing tension among his colleagues.