backfireTranslate backfire | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of backfire verb Pronunciation: /bakˈfʌɪə/ [no object] 1(of a vehicle or its engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust: a car backfired in the road and shoppers ducked instinctively 2(of a plan or action) have an opposite and undesirable effect to what was intended:overzealous publicity backfired on her noun Pronunciation: /ˈbakfʌɪə/ 1a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust of a vehicle or engine: once the engine is running smoothly, a backfire can be dramatic 2North American a fire started deliberately to stop the progress of an approaching fire by creating a burned area in its path. backfire in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of backfire in the US English dictionary
