3foul verb
fouls; fouled; foul·ing 1 [+ obj] : to make (a substance, place, etc.) dirty
▪ pollutants that foul the air ▪ fouling [=befouling] the sacred waters 2 sports a [no obj] : to commit a foul
▪ She fouled on her first long jump attempt.
b [+ obj] : to commit a foul against (another player)
▪ The other team has fouled him [=hit him, held him, etc.] repeatedly. ▪ He was fouled as he attempted the shot. 3 [+ obj] baseball : to hit (a pitched ball) so that it lands outside the foul lines
▪ He kept fouling pitches/balls into the stands. — often + off ▪ He fouled off several pitches in a row. 4 [+ obj] : to become twisted around (something) so that it cannot move, be used, etc.
▪ The anchor's rope fouled the propeller.
▪ pollutants that foul the air ▪ fouling [=befouling] the sacred waters
▪ She fouled on her first long jump attempt.
b [+ obj] : to commit a foul against (another player)
▪ The other team has fouled him [=hit him, held him, etc.] repeatedly. ▪ He was fouled as he attempted the shot.
▪ He kept fouling pitches/balls into the stands. — often + off ▪ He fouled off several pitches in a row.
▪ The anchor's rope fouled the propeller.
foul out [phrasal verb] 1 basketball : to be forced to leave a game because you have made too many fouls
▪ She fouled out (of the game) without scoring a point. 2 baseball, of a batter : to make an out by hitting a foul fly ball ball that is caught by a fielder
▪ The batter fouled out to the first baseman.
▪ She fouled out (of the game) without scoring a point.
▪ The batter fouled out to the first baseman.
foul up
[phrasal verb] informal 1 foul (something) up : to ruin or spoil (something)
▪ The weather has fouled up our plans. : to ruin or spoil (something) by making a mistake or being careless ▪ She fouled up [=ruined, messed up] our plans by forgetting to make the reservations. 2 foul up : to make mistakes : to fail at something because you have made a mistake or been careless
▪ Whenever I try to be clever, I usually foul up. [=mess up] — see also foul-up
▪ The weather has fouled up our plans. : to ruin or spoil (something) by making a mistake or being careless ▪ She fouled up [=ruined, messed up] our plans by forgetting to make the reservations.
▪ Whenever I try to be clever, I usually foul up. [=mess up] — see also foul-up
