foul play
[noun]
Synonyms: murder, blood, bump-off, hit, homicide, killing, manslaughter

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ˌfoul ˈplay noun [uncountable]

1. if 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.

2. an action that is dishonest, unfair, or illegal, especially one that happens during a sports game

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

foul play
noun
I. criminal activity
VERB + FOUL PLAY suspect | rule out The police have ruled out foul play in the case of his death.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

foul play
II. play that is against the rules
ADJ. deliberate, serious
VERB + FOUL PLAY be guilty of He was clearly guilty of foul play and deserved to be sent off.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

foul play
1.
actions which are not fair or honest.
A virus wiped out all our computer-held records. We suspect foul play on the part of an ex-employee.

2.
murder.
It's not clear why the man drowned, but the police haven't ruled out foul play.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

foul play
n. Treachery; a criminal act (such as murder).
After they discovered the dead body, the police suspected foul play.
"She must have met with foul play," the chief inspector said when they couldn't find the 12-year-old girl who had disappeared.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲