that was foul

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was foul" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express disapproval or disgust regarding an action, statement, or situation. Example: "After witnessing the unfair play during the game, I couldn't help but think that was foul."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Moustakas came up and hit a ball down the same line that was foul by inches.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I had to retrieve any ball that was fouled.

The New York Times

The N.C.A.A. once experimented with a rule that would allow a team that was fouled the option of taking the ball out of bounds or shooting the free throws, and it was met with stiff resistance, Bilik said.

The New York Times - Sports

A player from the team that was fouled runs up and has a free shot at goal.

Science Magazine

There have been three replays thus far, the most recent of which reunited two Chicago high schools Bloom and Brother Rice to determine the outcome of a basketball game that was fouled, because of a time-clock problem, 10 years ago.

Forbes

There were fouls that weren't fouls, and reactions to the fouls that weren't fouls, as well as reactions to the fouls that were fouls.

The New York Times

"Give the team that is fouled one free throw and the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

Of the 98 pitches he threw against Oakland, 52 were strikes — a middling ratio — including 18 that were fouled off.

The New York Times - Sports

"It was great," Torre said of Abreu's at-bat, which included four pitches from Durbin that were fouled off.

The New York Times - Sports

One aim of the exercise is to identify the bad debts that are fouling up euro-zone banks and preventing the flow of new credit.

The Economist

"What we buy doesn't come with information about the hidden costs: the air that is fouled, the water contaminated, the habitat destroyed, or the workers exploited.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "that was foul", ensure the context makes it clear what specific action or situation is being criticized for its unfairness or inappropriateness. If possible, follow up with specific reasons why it was "foul" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "that was foul" in situations where a simple mistake or accident occurred. "Foul" implies a deliberate act of unfairness or wrongdoing, not just an error in judgment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was foul" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a negative judgment or opinion about a specific action, behavior, or situation. As shown in Ludwig, it often indicates that something is considered unfair, inappropriate, or unacceptable, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that was foul" is used to express disapproval or indicate that something is unfair or unacceptable. While grammatically correct, as Ludwig AI confirms, its use is relatively rare. It commonly appears in News & Media, and to a smaller extent, Formal & Business contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the perceived unfairness and consider alternatives like "that was unfair" or "that was out of line" for more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was unfair

Replaces "foul" with "unfair", focusing on the lack of justice.

that was out of line

Indicates the action exceeded acceptable boundaries.

that was unacceptable

Emphasizes the action should not be tolerated.

that was dirty

Implies underhanded or unsportsmanlike conduct.

that was below the belt

Indicates an action that was unfairly targeting a weakness.

that was a cheap shot

Describes an unfair or underhanded action, particularly in sports.

that was a low blow

Similar to "below the belt", suggesting an unfair tactic.

that was improper

Focuses on the lack of adherence to rules or standards.

that was inappropriate

Highlights that the action was not suitable for the context.

that was wrong

A general statement indicating disapproval and lack of ethical behavior.

FAQs

What does "that was foul" mean?

The phrase "that was foul" expresses disapproval or disgust, indicating that something was unfair, inappropriate, or violated a standard of conduct. It's often used in situations involving sports, games, or any context where rules and fair play are expected.

How can I use "that was foul" in a sentence?

You can use "that was foul" to react to a specific action or situation you find unfair or unacceptable. For example, "The referee's biased call? That was foul!" or "Lying to gain an advantage? That was foul."

What can I say instead of "that was foul"?

You can use alternatives like "that was unfair", "that was out of line", or "that was unacceptable" depending on the context.

Is "that was foul" appropriate in formal writing?

While "that was foul" is grammatically correct, it can sound informal or subjective. In formal writing, it's often better to use more precise and objective language to describe what happened and why it was wrong or inappropriate.