foul
foul — adjective
1. having a very bad smell, taste, or general quality that makes people feel sick o
having a very bad smell, taste, or general quality that makes people feel sick or want to avoid it.
The milk in the fridge gave off a foul smell after sitting for days.
foul smell — very bad odor
After the storm, the basement filled with foul water that smelled like rotten eggs.
The water from the old pipe had a foul taste, so Minh bought bottled water.
A foul odor from the rubbish bins made the neighbours close all their windows.
The weather turned foul, with heavy rain and strong winds keeping everyone indoors.
- disgusting
more common in everyday speech, same intensity
- nasty
slightly less strong, often used for tastes and smells
- revolting
stronger, suggests physical sickness
- putrid
specifically describes rotting organic matter
用法筆記
Commonly used with nouns describing sensory experiences such as 'smell', 'taste', 'odour', and 'weather'.
常見錯誤
2. containing rude, obscene, or socially unacceptable words and expressions that ar
containing rude, obscene, or socially unacceptable words and expressions that are likely to offend people.
The coach used foul language when arguing with the referee and received a warning.
foul language — rude, swearing words
Ava told her little brother not to repeat the foul words he heard on television.
Film-makers were told that the foul language in their movie was too strong for a general audience.
Talia was shocked by the foul remarks made during the meeting by her colleague.
Anya complained to the hotel manager about the foul language coming from the room next door.
用法筆記
Usually placed before nouns such as 'language', 'speech', 'mouth', 'words', or 'remarks'. Not used to describe visual obscenity (use 'obscene' or 'indecent' instead).
常見錯誤
3. describing an action in a sport that the official rules do not allow and that us
describing an action in a sport that the official rules do not allow and that usually results in a penalty for the player or team.
The basketball player received a foul warning after pushing his opponent to the ground.
foul (adj.) — describing an illegal move in sports
A foul throw in soccer gives the other team a free kick from that spot.
Karim was sent off after a foul tackle that hurt the other player's ankle.
The referee called a charging foul when the basketball player slammed into the defender.
Sari was warned that repeated foul play could get her banned from the tournament.
用法筆記
In sports contexts, 'foul' can be both an adjective (a foul tackle) and a noun (he committed a foul). The adjective form describes the nature of the action itself.
4. wrong according to moral rules, especially because it involves dishonest, cruel,
wrong according to moral rules, especially because it involves dishonest, cruel, or harmful actions that most people would consider bad.
The company used foul means to steal trade secrets from its competitor.
foul means — dishonest methods
Many people consider cheating the elderly out of their savings a foul act.
The mayor's foul dealings with property developers were uncovered by a local journalist.
Eli believed that lying to the court was a foul betrayal of his duty.
The charity was shut down after investigators discovered its foul practices.
- virtuous
opposite in moral character
- honourable
opposite in conduct and principles
用法筆記
More formal and literary than other senses of 'foul'. Often appears in fixed phrases such as 'by fair means or foul' (idiom) and 'foul deed'. Less common in everyday conversation; 'evil' or 'corrupt' are more frequent alternatives.
常見錯誤
foul — noun
1. an action in a sporting contest that breaks the official regulations and gives t
an action in a sporting contest that breaks the official regulations and gives the other team or player a penalty or advantage.
The defender committed a foul by grabbing the attacker's shirt in the penalty area.
commit a foul — break the rules of a sport
Mizuki received her second foul of the match and had to sit on the bench.
In basketball, a player who gets five personal fouls must leave the game.
Heloísa protested loudly when the referee missed the foul on her teammate near the corner flag.
Tariro earned a free kick after being stopped by a foul near the goal.
- infringement
more formal, used in official rulebooks
- violation
broader term, used in any rule-based context
- penalty
sometimes the punishment itself rather than the action
用法筆記
Frequently paired with 'commit' (commit a foul). In team sports, different numbers of fouls trigger different penalties — common information useful for learners watching or playing sports.
常見錯誤
2. a ball in baseball struck by the batter that lands outside the two white lines m
a ball in baseball struck by the batter that lands outside the two white lines marking the side edges of the playing field.
The batter hit a foul that flew into the crowd behind third base.
hit a foul — baseball term for a ball hit out of play
Andrew swung hard but sent the ball into foul territory on the right.
The umpire shouted 'foul' as soon as the ball crossed the line near the stands.
Chen hit three fouls in a row before finally getting a strike.
Fans in the front row reached out their hands hoping to catch a foul.
用法筆記
Primarily used in American baseball contexts. In baseball statistics, fouls do not count as strikes unless the ball was bunted foul with two strikes already. The noun 'foul' here is short for 'foul ball'.
foul — verb
1. to violate a sport's regulations through illegal physical contact with or blocki
to violate a sport's regulations through illegal physical contact with or blocking of an opposing player.
The defender fouled the attacker as he ran towards the goal, stopping the play.
foul (v.) + opponent — illegally make contact with another player
Christopher fouled the shooter going up for the basket and gave away two free throws.
Mert was given a yellow card after he fouled the striker for the second time in the match.
Adisa jumped for the header but was careful not to foul the defender beneath him.
The goalkeeper fouled the striker inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick.
文法句型
foul + noun (opponent)
foul without object
用法筆記
Can be used transitively (foul someone) or intransitively (he fouled). In broadcast sports commentary, the passive form is also common: 'he was fouled'.
常見錯誤
2. to make something dirty, polluted, or no longer clean, especially by adding harm
to make something dirty, polluted, or no longer clean, especially by adding harmful or unpleasant substances.
The factory's waste pipes fouled the river that ran through the village.
foul (v.) + river — pollute a body of water
Oil spills from ships continue to foul beaches along the coast every year.
The dog fouled the new carpet, and the family had to call a cleaning service.
Chemical waste from the mine fouled the groundwater that local farmers relied on.
Élise was upset when the muddy boots fouled her freshly washed kitchen floor.
- soil
less strong, often means slightly dirty
- pollute
more formal, specifically about harmful substances in the environment
- contaminate
formal, implies making unsafe by adding harmful material
- stain
leaves a visible mark rather than general dirtiness
文法句型
foul + noun (place/thing)
be fouled by + noun
用法筆記
Also used figuratively to mean 'spoil or ruin' an experience or reputation (e.g. 'the scandal fouled his good name'). However, the literal sense of making physically dirty is more common.
常見錯誤
3. in the sport of baseball, to send the ball past the two lines that mark the side
in the sport of baseball, to send the ball past the two lines that mark the side edges of the field.
The batter fouled the first pitch straight back into the screen behind home plate.
foul (v.) + ball — hit the ball outside the playing area in baseball
Dylan tried for a home run but fouled the ball to left field.
Rivera fouled off three pitches in a row to stay in the at-bat.
Mark swung and fouled, sending the ball into the stands near the dugout.
文法句型
foul + ball (transitive)
foul (intransitive)
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'off' as a phrasal verb ('foul off') meaning to hit pitches foul deliberately to avoid striking out. Only relevant in baseball contexts, which is primarily an American sport.
foul — adverb
1. in a dishonest, unfair, or rule-breaking manner; used mainly in sports and compe
in a dishonest, unfair, or rule-breaking manner; used mainly in sports and competition contexts.
The team accused their rivals of playing foul during the championship match.
play foul — act in an unfair or rule-breaking way
The opposition claimed the election had been played foul, so the committee ordered a new vote.
played foul — adverb collocation meaning done unfairly or dishonestly
Mark said the organizers had acted foul by excluding him from the final event.
The tennis player was warned for acting foul when he shouted at the line judge.
- unfairly
the standard adverb, much more common than 'foul'
- dishonestly
focuses on deception rather than rules
- fairly
opposite of rule-abiding conduct
用法筆記
The adverb 'foul' is much less common than the adjective. It appears mostly in set phrases like 'play foul' or 'run foul'. The form 'foully' exists but is very rare and literary.