run afoul of

run afoul of (someone or something)

1. In sailing, to collide or become entangled with something. The schooner lost control and ran afoul of the lead boat. The small powerboat ran afoul of the seaweed and was completely immobilized.
2. To be in severe disagreement, trouble, or difficulty with someone or something; to be at odds with someone or something, especially due to disobeying rules or laws. Always look into the laws of any place you visit, or you may end up unwittingly running afoul of the local police. Ms. Banks has run afoul of this university for the last time. She is no longer welcome here!
See also: afoul, of, run
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

run afoul of

Also, run foul of. Come into conflict with, as in If you keep parking illegally you'll run afoul of the police. This expression originated in the late 1600s, when it was applied to a vessel colliding or becoming entangled with another vessel, but at the same time it was transferred to non-nautical usage. Both senses remain current.
See also: afoul, of, run
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • run afoul of (someone or something)
  • run foul of
  • run foul of (someone or something)
  • run from
  • run from (someone or something)
  • bolt
  • run to earth, to
  • run past (someone or something)
  • ran
  • in on
References in periodicals archive
The other is that businessmen he had run afoul of ordered him eliminated.
However, that would run afoul of legislative leaders who insist that time has run out.
Follow up with [e.sup.3] Odor Terminator Field Spray, Dead Down Wind's last line of defense for archers who may run afoul of wayward scents such as gasoline, smoke and food odors on their way to a hunting locale or sometimes even in the field.
In June, the national church's synod voted down a plan to let local churches decide for themselves whether to bless same-sex marriages while also saying that same-sex blessings do not run afoul of core Anglican doctrine.
After an extended review of the transaction, the Justice Department said that the combined firm would still face competition in fresh and processed pork and therefore did not run afoul of antitrust rules.
Purposefully backdated options that are properly accounted for and do not run afoul of the company's public disclosure are legal.
A similar 2003 case brought in French civil court had run afoul of a thirty-year limitations period which allegedly does not apply in administrative court.
Her father, a mayor who had run afoul of the Nazi authorities himself, tells Sophie he is proud of her and Hans and what they have done.
Some companies have run afoul of native bands by conducting grassroots exploration in places considered sacred or part of Aboriginal traditional lands.
Opponents of Buttars's proposal said it would run afoul of the same legal obstacles as previous attempts to ban the clubs did.
The new practice privilege will provide the CBA with increased opportunity to protect California consumers by letting them know who is practicing in California and provide them with an expedited method of bringing discipline against out-of-state CPAs who may run afoul of the law.
A JUDGE in the US has ordered "black box" technology to keep an eye on drivers who repeatedly run afoul of the law.
In the absence of similar guidance for other e-sign applications, many schools have been reluctant to broaden its use, not wanting to possibly run afoul of the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
But in the end they refuse to stick their necks out for this child of theirs who has run afoul of the authorities in his untimely wholeness.
Aggressive tax incentive schemes often run afoul of this limitation.