foul play
Suspected sinister activity
Foul play is wrongdoing, especially violence or murder: Police suspect foul play in the woman's disappearance.
The phrase originated in games and sports, where foul play means unfair or illegal actions against an opponent.
The figurative sense of criminal activity now dominates: The investigation ruled out foul play.
Intentional misleading of others
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
swindle · scam · con · manipulation · misrepresentation · embezzlement · forgery · imposture
Causing another's death
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
evidence · suspicion · culprit · perpetrator · victim · autopsy · coroner · motive
Storyline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- complicityShared criminal involvement
connivance · cabal · machination · intrigue · treachery · clandestine · covert · mastermind
Contrary to athletic ethics
- riggedFraudulently arranged beforehand
- dopingProhibited athletic drug use
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- refereeSports rule enforcer
penalty · disqualification · violation · banned substance · point-shaving · bribery · tampering · ineligible
Violent offensive act
- attackAggressive act against another
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- harmInjury or damage
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
struggle · blow · altercation · aggression · trauma · blunt force · strangulation · wounds
deception
Intentional misleading of others
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
duplicity · swindle · scam · con · manipulation · misrepresentation · embezzlement · forgery · imposture · subterfuge
homicide
Causing another's death
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
forensics · evidence · suspicion · culprit · perpetrator · victim · autopsy · coroner · motive · alibi
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
complicity · connivance · cabal · machination · intrigue · treachery · clandestine · covert · mastermind · conspirator
unsportsmanlike
Contrary to athletic ethics
- riggedFraudulently arranged beforehand
- dopingProhibited athletic drug use
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
referee · penalty · disqualification · violation · banned substance · point-shaving · bribery · tampering · ineligible · rules violation
assault
Violent offensive act
injury · struggle · blow · altercation · aggression · trauma · blunt force · strangulation · wounds · abduction
- FIFAWorld Cup, World Cup trophy, offside rule, red card, yellow card
- dirty playcheap shot, cheap shots, late hit, low blow, elbowing
- Soccergoal, soccer, pass, football, goalkeeper
- crime investigationdetective, whodunit, investigation, detectives, investigator
- mysteryclue, detective, suspect, clues, sleuth
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, sleuth, murder mystery, detective novel
foul playaccident
Unintended harmful event
natural causes · accidental death · natural death · misadventure · coincidence
foul playfair play
Honorable conduct in games
sportsmanship · fair dealing · honesty · integrity · good conduct
play, foul, fouled, fouling, fouler, foulest, foul ball, fair play