FOUL PLAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does foul play mean? 

• FOUL PLAY (noun)
  The noun FOUL PLAY has 1 sense:

1. unfair or dishonest behavior (especially involving violence)

  Familiarity information: FOUL PLAY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOUL PLAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Unfair or dishonest behavior (especially involving violence)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("foul play" is a kind of...):

evil; immorality; iniquity; wickedness (morally objectionable behavior)

 Context examples 

“I assure you that everything was perfectly normal and there was no room for foul play in the matter,” said he.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“What foul play! What does the man mean?”

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

But I know that there is foul play going on, and I want to help that unhappy man if I can.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He therefore murdered Adair, who at the time was endeavouring to work out how much money he should himself return, since he could not profit by his partner’s foul play.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange disappearance of the bride.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His nephew, Watson—I had suspicions of foul play and I allowed him to see it.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A horse so treated would develop a slight lameness, which would be put down to a strain in exercise or a touch of rheumatism, but never to foul play.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I think there’s been foul play,” said Poole, hoarsely.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)