foul playˌfoul ˈplay noun [uncountable] 
The police said they had no reason to suspect foul play. Detectives have not ruled out foul play.2an action that is dishonest, unfair, or illegal, especially one that happens during a sports game
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The autopsy report showed no evidence of foul play.
- There have been rumors of foul play in the last election.
Longman Language Activatorthe act or crime of killing someone
the act or crime of deliberately killing someone: · New York paid tribute to the thousands of innocent people murdered on September 11th.· a series of brutal murders· The incidence of violent crimes -- murder, rape, and assault -- has increased in inner city areas.murder of: · Ronny Jones was found guilty of the murder of a 15 year old girl.commit murder (=to murder someone): · The gun was found five miles from where the murder was committed.attempted murder (=the crime of unsuccessfully trying to kill someone): · He was charged with attempted murder and found guilty.murder victim: · The murder victim has not yet been identified.
the crime of killing someone, especially deliberately - used especially in American legal contexts: · 70 per cent of homicides take place within the family.· As yet no evidence has been found to suggest that this death was homicide.homicide case/charge/detective: · A newspaper article criticized his handling of a homicide case
the crime of killing someone by accident, or while you are trying to defend yourself: · She denied murdering her husband, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.· The court decided there was insufficient evidence for a manslaughter charge.manslaughter of: · The driver of the train was charged with the manslaughter of 13 people.
when someone is deliberately killed - used especially in news reports: · A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the killing.killing of: · The defendant claimed that he was only avenging the killing of his brother.contract killing (=when someone has been paid to kill someone else): · Perry said Taylor approached him and asked him to carry out a contract killing on Johnson.
when someone deliberately kills a famous or important person, especially for political reasons: · Three foreign diplomats have been killed in a series of assassinations.assassination of: · The assassination of Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo led to the First World War.· Flowers were laid to commemorate the anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon.
formal if the police think that foul play is involved in a person's death, they think that the person has been murdered: · There was no question of foul play - a suicide note was found near the body.· The medical report showed no signs of poison in the body but the police still suspect foul play.
WORD SETSabet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The police said they had no reason to suspect foul play. Detectives have not ruled out foul play.
1if the police think someone’s death was caused by foul play, they think that person was murdered: The police said they had no reason to suspect foul play. Detectives have not ruled out foul play. The police said they had no reason to suspect foul play. Detectives have not ruled out foul play.2an action that is dishonest, unfair, or illegal, especially one that happens during a sports game