afoul of /əˈfaʊləv/ adverb Learner's definition of AFOUL OF
fall/run afoul of
chiefly US
: to get into trouble because of (the law, a rule, etc.)（因触犯法律、规则等）惹上麻烦，陷入困境 -
After leaving home he fell afoul of the law. [=he got into trouble for breaking the law; he was arrested for committing a crime]离开家之后，他因犯罪被逮捕了。
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an investor who has run afoul of stock market rules违反股市规定的投资者