Backfire - definition, pronunciation, transcription
Amer.
|ˌbækˈfaɪər|
Brit.
|ˌbækˈfæɪə|
noun
- the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired
- a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine
- a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path
- a miscalculation that recoils on its maker (syn: boomerang)
- a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine
- a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path
- a miscalculation that recoils on its maker (syn: boomerang)
verb
- come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect (syn: backlash, recoil)
Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble
- emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfireMy old car backfires all the time
- set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fireExtra examples
...my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up sobbing that everyone had forgotten her birthday...
She heard a small explosion like the backfire of a car.
The company's new policy backfired when a number of employees threatened to quit.
At other points they back-fired, taking advantage of every change of wind.
Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble
My old car backfires all the time
Word forms
verb
I/you/we/they: backfire
he/she/it: backfires
present participle: backfiring
past tense: backfired
past participle: backfired
I/you/we/they: backfire
he/she/it: backfires
present participle: backfiring
past tense: backfired
past participle: backfired
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