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Foiling: meaning, definitions and examples

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foiling

 

[ ˈfɔɪlɪŋ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

sports activity

Foiling refers to the practice of using a foil, a type of sword, in the sport of fencing. It is characterized by its flexible blade and is designed for thrusting attacks. The objective in foiling is to score points by landing touches on the opponent’s valid target area. Although it is one of the three fencing disciplines, the techniques and rules for foiling differ from those in epee and sabre. Foiling requires agility, precision, and tactical acumen.

Synonyms

dueling, fencing, swordplay

Examples of usage

  • She excelled in foiling competitions.
  • The coach emphasized the importance of strategy in foiling.
  • Foiling matches can be quite thrilling to watch.
Context #2 | Verb

preventing success

To foil someone means to prevent their plans or efforts from succeeding. This can occur in various contexts, such as thwarting an attempt or hindering progress. The act of foiling often involves cleverness or resourcefulness to overcome an adversary's intentions. Foiling might be used in both literal contexts, such as stopping a criminal act, and metaphorical contexts, like foiling someone's ambitions.

Synonyms

frustrate, prevent, thwart

Examples of usage

  • The detective foiled the villain's plot.
  • She managed to foil his attempts to manipulate the situation.
  • They worked together to foil the hacker’s plans.

Translations

Translations of the word "foiling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ferragem

🇮🇳 फोइलिंग

🇩🇪 Folierung

🇮🇩 pelapisan

🇺🇦 фольгування

🇵🇱 foliowanie

🇯🇵 フォイリング

🇫🇷 filmage

🇪🇸 foliado

🇹🇷 folyo

🇰🇷 포일링

🇸🇦 التغليف

🇨🇿 foliování

🇸🇰 foliovanie

🇨🇳 覆膜

🇸🇮 foliranje

🇮🇸 folíun

🇰🇿 фольга

🇬🇪 ფოლიო

🇦🇿 folyo

🇲🇽 foliado

Word origin

The word 'foiling' has its origins in the 14th century, derived from the Middle English word 'foilen,' which means to 'fail' or 'to thwart.' Initially, the term was associated with the act of preventing someone from achieving their goal. Over time, in the realm of sports, particularly fencing, 'foil' became associated with a specific type of sword used in competitive events. The evolution of fencing styles throughout the centuries led to formalized rules, and the term 'foiling' became prevalent in discussions about the art of fencing. Thus, the word embodies both a physical activity and a metaphorical concept in various contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,578, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.