Definition of backfire - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
unintended resulthave an opposite effect than intended
- His plan to surprise her backfired and upset her instead.
2.
mechanicsTECH. produce a loud noise due to engine malfunctionTECH.
- The car backfired loudly as it passed by.
Noun
1.
unintended effectplan that has an unwanted effect
- His scheme was a backfire and caused more problems.
2.
mechanicsTECH. loud noise from an engine explosionTECH.
- The car made a backfire as it started.
3.
firefightingTECH. US fire set to stop a wildfireTECH. US
- Firefighters used a backfire to control the blaze.
Expressions with backfire
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have an unintended negative effect on someone
His plan to surprise her backfired on him.
situation where an attempt to solve a problem makes it worse
The new policy had a backfire effect, increasing the issues it aimed to solve.
Origin of backfire
English, back + fire
Terms with backfire included in their meaning
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Examples of backfire in a sentence
Her attempt to help backfired, causing more confusion. The old truck backfired unexpectedly on the highway. As he started the engine, it backfired with a bang. The marketing campaign turned into a backfire. Their decision to cut costs was a backfire. A sudden backfire startled the pedestrians.
The mechanic diagnosed the cause of the backfire. The team set a backfire to halt the advancing flames. A strategic backfire saved the forest from destruction.
View all translations of backfire
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:avoir l'effet inverse, retour de flamme, ...
- German:fehlschlagen, Rückschlag, ...
- Italian:ritorcersi contro, boomerang, ...
- Spanish:fracasar, fracaso, ...
- Portuguese:sair pela culatra, tiro pela culatra, ...
- Chinese:事与愿违, 反效果, ...
- Japanese:裏目に出る, 裏目, ...
- Arabic:يَنْقَلِب ضِدَّ صاحِبِه, نَتيجَة عَكْسِيَّة, ...
- Hebrew:לַחֲזוֹר כְּבוּמֵרַנְג, בּוּמֵרַנְג, ...
- Russian:иметь обратный эффект, обратный эффект, ...
- Ukrainian:мати зворотний ефект, провал, ...
- Hindi:उल्टा पड़ना, उल्टा असर, ...
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