backfire
pronunciation
How to pronounce backfire in British English:
UK [ˌbækˈfaɪə(r)]
How to pronounce backfire in American English:
US [ˈbækˌfaɪr]
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- Noun:
- a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine
- a miscalculation that recoils on its maker
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- Verb:
- have an unexpected and undesired effect
- emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire
- set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire
Word Origin
- backfire (n.)
- 1839, American English, originally "a fire deliberately lit ahead of an advancing prairie fire to deprive it of fuel," from back (adj.) + fire (n.). As a verb in this sense, recorded from 1886. The meaning "premature ignition in an internal-combustion engine" is first recorded 1897. Of schemes, plans, etc., "to affect the initiator rather than the intended object" it is attested from 1912, a figurative use from the accidental back-firing of firearms.
Example
- 1. There is a chance the strategy could backfire .
- 2. The kremlin announced yesterday that 40 bear and backfire bombers would fly practice air raids near japan .
- 3. Potential economic stimuli might backfire and overwhelm state-owned banks with bad loans .
- 4. But formally citing beijing as a currency manipulator may backfire , economic and foreign-policy experts have said .
- 5. If politicians try too hard to associate themselves with the gold rush it could easily backfire .