Definitions for backfire
ˈbækˌfaɪərback·fire

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. blowback, backfirenoun

   the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired

2. backfirenoun

   a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine

3. backfirenoun

   a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path

4. backfire, boomerangverb

   a miscalculation that recoils on its maker

5. backfire, backlash, recoilverb

   come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect

   "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble"

6. backfireverb

   emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire

   "My old car backfires all the time"

7. backfireverb

   set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. backfireverb

   (Of a gun or cannon) to fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.

2. backfireverb

   To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.

   His attempt to make money by importing luxury cars horribly backfired when fuel prices tripled.

3. Etymology: From back + fire.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. backfire

   Backfire generally refers to a situation where an action or plan has the opposite effect to what was originally intended. It often results in harm or damage to the person who initiated the action or plan. It can be used in different contexts such as psychological, social, mechanical, or physical situations.

Matched Categories

1. • Explosion
   • Fire
   • Noise

Anagrams for backfire »

1. fireback

How to pronounce backfire?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say backfire in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of backfire in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of backfire in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of backfire in a Sentence

1. Ken Cheung:

   The PBOC has not yet signaled its bottom line for the yuan, and given the United States is holding its presidential election next year, the situation is unlikely to deteriorate too much as that could trigger a backfire.

2. Howard Breuer:

   Regardless of whether Alec is ever found liable in a trial, he is right to return to work and continue to earn a living, among other things, it's good therapy for him, and this was probably recommended by everyone from his attorneys to his therapists.I don't think this will backfire on him.

3. Pamela Oliver:

   That’s the big debate, most people think that non-violence is the way to go and that violent, aggressive responses could backfire, that is play into the hands of white supremacists by using violence.

4. Justice Neil Gorsuch Ron Bonjean:

   Ronald Krotoszynski Jr. said. However, former communication strategist for Justice Neil Gorsuch Ron Bonjean warned that such a push by Democrats could backfire and rile up the conservative base for the midterms. I think that would just fire up the conservative base big time and... conservative voters would n’t like that and they ’d be pretty fired up going into the November elections, that’s for sure.

5. Jesse Hunt:

   What we saw in Virginia and in New Jersey was that people's concerns about affordability and the workforce returning to where it was pre-pandemic, and anything that contributes to these employers' ability to earn a living, is going to backfire on these Democratic governors, right now, economic concerns reign supreme in voters' minds.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=backfire
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Backfire
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com