backfireverb [ I ]
uk/ˌbækˈfaɪər/us/ˌbækˈfaɪr/backfire verb [ I ] (BAD RESULT)
(of a plan) to have the opposite result from the one you intended:
Her plans to make him jealous backfired on her when he started dating her best friend.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Failing and doing badly
- at-risk
- backbencher
- balls-up
- be running on empty idiom
- beat a dead horse idiom
- crack
- crash
- draw
- fail
- fall apart
- flunk out
- fray around/at the edges idiom
- fumble
- get off on the right/wrong foot idiom
- give up on sb/sth
- screw (sth) up
- sink like a stone idiom 1
- sink like a stone
- so much for sth idiom
- stagnate
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backfire verb [ I ] (ENGINE)
(of an engine) to make a loud noise as a result of fuel burning too early:
I was woken by the sound of a truck backfiring.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Machines - Functioning
- asthmatically
- faulty
- fire sth up
- function as sth/sb
- functionally
- operation
- operational
- operative
- order
- pack
- pack up
- peg
- perform
- play up
- right
- roll
- start
- tick
- torpor
- work
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