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- Dictionaryback·fire/ˈbakˌfī(ə)r/
verb
- 1. (of an engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust: "a car backfired in the road" Similar
- 2. (of a plan or action) rebound adversely on the originator; have the opposite effect to what was intended: "overzealous publicity backfired on her" Similar
noun
- 1. a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust of a vehicle or engine: "once the engine is running smoothly, a backfire can be dramatic"
- 2. a fire set intentionally to arrest the progress of an approaching fire by creating a burned area in its path, thus depriving the fire of fuel. North American
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(of a plan) to have the opposite result from the one you intended: Her plans to make him jealous backfired on her when he started dating her best friend. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Failing and doing badly. abjectly. at-risk. backbencher. balls (something) up. be on your beam endsidiom. blow (someone/something) up. bomb. egg.
BACKFIRED definition: 1. past simple and past participle of backfire 2. (of a plan) to have the opposite result from the…. Learn more.
The meaning of BACKFIRE is to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect. How to use backfire in a sentence.
BACKFIRE meaning: 1. (of a plan) to have the opposite result from the one you intended: 2. (of an engine) to make a…. Learn more.
Use the word backfire when you talk about the sound a car makes when a small explosion in its exhaust system pops — sometimes as loudly as a gunshot. Hearing a car's backfire can make you jump, because it makes a sharp, shot-like sound.
verb (intransitive) 1. (of an internal-combustion engine) to emit a loud noise as a result of an explosion in the inlet manifold or exhaust system. 2. (of an endeavour, plan, etc) to have an unwanted effect on its perpetrator. his plans backfired on him.
verb. /ˌbækˈfaɪə (r)/ /ˌbækˈfaɪər/ Verb Forms. [intransitive] to have the opposite effect to the one intended, with bad or dangerous results. Unfortunately the plan backfired. He had to be rescued from the water when the stunt backfired disastrously. backfire on somebody The surprise I had planned backfired on me. Topics Difficulty and failure c2.
