backfire
/ˈbækˌfaɪər/
verb
- (of a plan, action, or situation) To have the opposite result from what was intended, often causing harm or failure.
- His attempt to embarrass her backfired when everyone laughed at him instead.
- The company's new policy backfired and led to lower sales.
- Trying to cheat on the test backfired when the teacher caught him.
- (of an engine or vehicle) To make a loud explosive noise because fuel burns at the wrong time.
- The old truck's engine backfired loudly as it started.
- We heard a car backfire in the distance and thought it was a gunshot.
- The motorcycle backfired twice before the mechanic fixed it.
Antonyms
noun
- A loud explosive noise from an engine caused by improper fuel combustion.
- The backfire startled everyone on the street.
- The mechanic diagnosed the problem after hearing a backfire.
- A sudden backfire from the lawnmower scared the dog.
- A fire set intentionally to stop an advancing wildfire by burning the area in front of it.
- They used a helicopter to ignite the backfire ahead of the main fire.
- Firefighters started a backfire to control the forest blaze.
- The backfire successfully cleared a safe zone for the crew.