backfire

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Verb 1.2.1 Translations 1.3 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From back + fire.

[edit] Verb

to backfire (third-person singular simple present backfires, present participle backfiring, simple past and past participle backfired)

1. (of a gun or cannon) to fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel
2. 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.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

backfire (plural backfires)

1. (firefighting) Alternative spelling of back fire.