Backfire

Quick meaning: Backfire is a noun meaning An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.

Meaning

An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.

More Meanings

1. An explosion in other equipment.
2. (firefighting) Alternative form of back fire.
3. (intransitive) Of a gun, cannon, Bunsen burner, etc., to fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.
4. (idiomatic, transitive) To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.
5. (firefighting) To set a back fire (small, controlled fire to limit spread of a larger fire).
6. A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.
7. (intransitive) Of a reciprocating engine, to experience a premature ignition of fuel or an ignition of exhaust gases, making a popping sound.

Example Sentences

Her plan backfired on her.

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

It was just after the Biafran war, and all the local people were still jumpy. Any time a car backfired or a police siren howled, they would dive under desks or tables instinctively.

As much of Seattle tries to sleep, the Hellcat supercar goes on the prowl, the howls of its engine and the explosive backfires from its tailpipes echoing off the high-rise towers downtown.

Word Forms

• backfires
• backfiring
• backfired

Synonyms for backfire

Depending on context, synonyms include knock, ping, backlash, boomerang.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include backlash, boomerang, rebound, defeat, fail, derail.

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