FOIL in a Sentence

Learn FOIL from example sentences, some of them are from classic books. These examples are selected from a corpus with 300,000 sentences, including classic works and current mainstream media. Some sentences also link to their contexts.

For FOIL, below is one of 19 sentences:
Again the avenger had been foiled, and again his concentrated hatred urged him to continue the pursuit.

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 Meanings and Examples of FOIL
Definition Example Sentence Classic Sentence
foil
 n.  thin, flexible leaf or sheet of metal; prevent from being successful; set off by contrast
Classic Sentence:
1  These boots, an old foil, and a slashed doublet once used by an artist for some picture, were Jo's chief treasures and appeared on all occasions.
Little Women By Louisa May Alcott
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER TWO
2  However, it must be acknowledged, she had faults to foil her gifts.
Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER XVIII
3  Nay, he made this foil of his so very widely known, that third parties took it up, and handled it on some occasions with considerable briskness.
Hard Times By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In BOOK 1: CHAPTER V
4  I feel a foil as quick and supple as my own.
The Hound of the Baskervilles By Arthur Conan Doyle
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 5. Three Broken Threads
5  "The button from your foil," he answered.
The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER 18
6  Again the avenger had been foiled, and again his concentrated hatred urged him to continue the pursuit.
A Study In Scarlet By Arthur Conan Doyle
Context  Highlight   In PART II: CHAPTER V. THE AVENGING ANGELS
7  Have patience, sir," replied his counsellor; "I might retort your accusation, and blame the inconsiderate levity which foiled my design, and misled your own better judgment.
Ivanhoe By Walter Scott
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER XIV
8  Cranly's heavy boots were heard loudly charging across the quadrangle and then returning heavily, foiled and spurning the gravel at each step.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man By James Joyce
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 5
9  He came and listened at the mysterious lodger's door, hoping to catch the sound of his voice, but Jean Valjean saw his candle through the key-hole, and foiled the spy by keeping silent.
Les Misérables 2 By Victor Hugo
Context  Highlight   In BOOK 5: CHAPTER X—WHICH EXPLAINS HOW JAVERT GOT ON THE SCENT
10  There there was a trophy of arms formed of wooden broadswords, canes, clubs, and foils.
Les Misérables 4 By Victor Hugo
Context  Highlight   In BOOK 1: CHAPTER V—FACTS WHENCE HISTORY SPRINGS AND WHICH HISTORY ...
11  One day, the buttons were removed from the foils.
Les Misérables 4 By Victor Hugo
Context  Highlight   In BOOK 1: CHAPTER V—FACTS WHENCE HISTORY SPRINGS AND WHICH HISTORY ...
Example Sentence:
1  Cover the chicken with silver foil and bake.
2  Pour cider around the meat and cover with foil.
3  Cover the chicken loosely with foil.
4  Her sparkling jewellery served as the perfect foil for her fine complexion.
5  The pale walls provide a perfect foil for the brightly coloured furniture.
6  In the end, Skywalker is able to foil Vader's diabolical schemes.
7  The pretty girl likes plain boy friend as foil.
8  The prisoners' attempt to escape was foiled at the last minute when police received a tip-off.