backfire

Plural: backfires

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
• Alternative spelling of back fire.
• A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.
• An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.
• An explosion in other equipment.

Verb

Verb Forms: backfired, backfiring, backfires

• To have an unintended and unwelcome result opposite to what was planned.
• come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
  • "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble"
• emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire
  • "My old car backfires all the time"
• set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire
• To fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.
• To experience a premature ignition of fuel or an ignition of exhaust gases, making a popping sound.
• To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.
• To set a back fire (small, controlled fire to limit spread of a larger fire).

Examples

• Her plan backfired on her.
• His attempt to block me on the triple-word score would backfire magnificently.
• His attempt to make money by importing luxury cars backfired horribly when fuel prices tripled.

Synonyms

backlash, blowback, boomerang, recoil, knock, ping

Anagrams of backfire