Meaning of "backfire" in the English dictionary

PRONUNCIATION OF BACKFIRE

backfire  [ˌbækˈfaɪə]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF BACKFIRE

Backfire is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb backfire in English.

WHAT DOES BACKFIRE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Backfire

Back-fire is an unintended explosion produced in a vehicle's engine. Backfire also may refer to...

Definition of backfire in the English dictionary

The first definition of backfire in the dictionary is to emit a loud noise as a result of an explosion in the inlet manifold or exhaust system. Other definition of backfire is to have an unwanted effect on its perpetrator. Backfire is also to start a controlled fire in order to halt an advancing forest or prairie fire by creating a barren area.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO BACKFIRE

PRESENT

Present

I backfire

you backfire

he/she/it backfires

we backfire

you backfire

they backfire

Present continuous

I am backfiring

you are backfiring

he/she/it is backfiring

we are backfiring

you are backfiring

they are backfiring

Present perfect

I have backfired

you have backfired

he/she/it has backfired

we have backfired

you have backfired

they have backfired

Present perfect continuous

I have been backfiring

you have been backfiring

he/she/it has been backfiring

we have been backfiring

you have been backfiring

they have been backfiring

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I backfired

you backfired

he/she/it backfired

we backfired

you backfired

they backfired

Past continuous

I was backfiring

you were backfiring

he/she/it was backfiring

we were backfiring

you were backfiring

they were backfiring

Past perfect

I had backfired

you had backfired

he/she/it had backfired

we had backfired

you had backfired

they had backfired

Past perfect continuous

I had been backfiring

you had been backfiring

he/she/it had been backfiring

we had been backfiring

you had been backfiring

they had been backfiring

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will backfire

you will backfire

he/she/it will backfire

we will backfire

you will backfire

they will backfire

Future continuous

I will be backfiring

you will be backfiring

he/she/it will be backfiring

we will be backfiring

you will be backfiring

they will be backfiring

Future perfect

I will have backfired

you will have backfired

he/she/it will have backfired

we will have backfired

you will have backfired

they will have backfired

Future perfect continuous

I will have been backfiring

you will have been backfiring

he/she/it will have been backfiring

we will have been backfiring

you will have been backfiring

they will have been backfiring

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would backfire

you would backfire

he/she/it would backfire

we would backfire

you would backfire

they would backfire

Conditional continuous

I would be backfiring

you would be backfiring

he/she/it would be backfiring

we would be backfiring

you would be backfiring

they would be backfiring

Conditional perfect

I would have backfire

you would have backfire

he/she/it would have backfire

we would have backfire

you would have backfire

they would have backfire

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been backfiring

you would have been backfiring

he/she/it would have been backfiring

we would have been backfiring

you would have been backfiring

they would have been backfiring

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you backfire
we let´s backfire
you backfire

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to backfire

Past participle

backfired

Present Participle

backfiring

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «BACKFIRE»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «backfire» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of backfire

boomerang · fail · fall flat · fall through · flop · founder · miscarry · misfire · rebound

TRANSLATION OF BACKFIRE

Find out the translation of backfire to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of backfire from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «backfire» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 事与愿违
• Translator English - Spanish: fallar
• English: backfire
• Translator English - Hindi: उल्टी
• Translator English - Arabic: يُخَّلِفُ نَتَائِج عَكْسِيَّة
• Translator English - Russian: неожиданно привести к обратным результатам
• Translator English - Portuguese: obter um resultado oposto ao que se esperava
• Translator English - Bengali: বিপর্যয় ঘটা
• Translator English - French: mal tourner
• Translator English - Malay: Backfire
• Translator English - German: fehlschlagen
• Translator English - Japanese: 裏目に出る
• Translator English - Korean: 기대에 어긋난 결과가 되다
• Translator English - Javanese: Backfire
• Translator English - Vietnamese: phản tác dụng
• Translator English - Tamil: நல்ல பலன்களே கிடைத்திருக்கின்றன
• Translator English - Marathi: उलथापालथ
• Translator English - Turkish: geri teper
• Translator English - Italian: ritorcersi contro
• Translator English - Polish: przynieść odwrotny skutek
• Translator English - Ukrainian: давати протилежний результат
• Translator English - Romanian: a eșua
• Translator English - Greek: αποτυγχάνω
• Translator English - Afrikaans: boemerang
• Translator English - Swedish: slå slint
• Translator English - Norwegian: slå tilbake (på)

2 QUOTES WITH «BACKFIRE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word backfire.

1

Gary Lineker

When you're winning games, everyone thinks everything the manager says and does is fantastic. Then it goes the other way, and those earlier criticisms of players can backfire.

2

James Wolk

I try to stay away from the more schmaltzy side of things. That can backfire quickly.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «BACKFIRE»

Discover the use of backfire in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to backfire and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Backfire

For what you did you deserve this.

Catherine Coulter, 2012

Backfire: How the Ku Klux Klan Helped the Civil Rights Movement

"While focused on the Klan's activities in the twentieth-century, Backfire also looks beyond the abuses of the past.

David Mark Chalmers, 2005

Backfire: Carly Fiorina's High-Stakes Battle for the Soul of ...

An insider's look at the internal turmoil at one of the world's premier high-tech companies This is the inside story of Hewlett-Packard Company's struggle to regain its former glory, and of the high-stakes battle between CEO Carly Fiorina ...

Peter Burrows, 2003

Backfire

Philadelphia police detective Patrick Paige tracks a twisted homicidal psychopath with a taste for his own brand of teenaged skin flicks. By the author of Skeletons. Reprint.

Eric Sauter, 1993

Justice Ignited: The Dynamics of Backfire

Through numerous detailed case studies, Justice Ignited reveals the most promising tactics that can make unfair attacks backfire.

Brian Martin, 2007

Backfire

Praise for Catherine Coulter 'Exciting . . . A tight plot full of unexpected twists will keep readers turning the pages.' Publishers Weekly 'Coulter's breezy style and nonstop action make this relentlessly readable.' Booklist

Catherine Coulter, 2013

Backfire: a history of how American culture led us into ...

Explores how reactions to U.S. involvement in Vietnam changed the way Americans think about their country, its role in the world, and the veterans of the war and shaped subsequent political structure

Loren Baritz, 1986

Backfire: A Reporter's Look at Affirmative Action

The author examines the controversial issue of affirmative action, discussing how it really works in such areas as employment, voting rights, mortgage and insurance regulation, education, and minority set-asides

Robert Zelnick, 1996

Abolishing Performance Appraisals (Large Print 16pt)

Performance appraisals are used in the overwhelming majority of workplaces. Yet, most organizations that use appraisal-and a similar percentage of givers and receivers of appraisal-are dissatisfied with the process.

Tom Coens and Mary Jenkins, 2010

Backfire

Marty Donovan is a cop who happens to be in love with Lenore, his partner's wife.

Dan Marlowe, 2013

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «BACKFIRE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term backfire is used in the context of the following news items.

4 Reasons Why Adelson Anti-BDS Campaign Will Backfire

Here are four reasons why this new campaign of hasbara on steroids is likely to backfire, leading to more animus against Israel, and more ... «Forward, Jul 15»

Kagan: Will T-Mobile antics backfire?

I have a question for you: are the accusations and colorful language from T-Mobile US CEO John Legere ultimately helping or hurting his ... «RCR Wireless News, Jul 15»

Cameron's war on tax credits could backfire

Soon the guessing will be at an end. In this year's election Britain's Conservative party campaigned on a programme of accelerated fiscal ... «Financial Times, Jul 15»

Facebook project could backfire

The Internet.org project, driven mainly by Facebook and supported in this country by Cell C and the Western Cape government, could be the ... «Independent Online, Jul 15»

McManus: Attempting to force assimilation can backfire

If you think immigration is a poisonous issue in American politics, spare a moment of sympathy for France, where demographics, terrorism and ... «Spartanburg Herald Journal, Jul 15»

Letter - Rebellion against Creator will backfire on nation

#We are told our biggest problem is global warming. Actually the largest problem is global rebellion against the Creator of the universe. «Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Jul 15»

Australia's aggression might backfire, says Vaughan ahead of Ashes

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that world champion Australia needs to be careful of their aggression as it could backfire ... «New Kerala, Jul 15»

Ahok's firm approach could backfire: Expert

Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama's heavy handed approach to his staff has demoralized the capital's 72,000 civil servants and ... «Jakarta Post, Jul 15»

United Daily News: China's national security law may backfire

The standing committee of China's National People's Congress recently passed a national security law, which states that "maintenance of ... «Focus Taiwan News Channel, Jul 15»

Media curbs will backfire

She said public rights and freedom have been considerably curtailed under the present circumstances. To restrain them further will backfire on ... «Bangkok Post, Jul 15»