backfire

Meanings

• Noun

  An unexpected or unwanted consequence of an action.

  - "The politician's attack on his opponent's character backfired when it revealed his own scandals."
  - "The prank call backfired when the person on the other end threatened to call the police."

---

Synonyms

knock , ping

---

Rhymes

Words rhyming with backfire
pyre , tire , quire

---

Variants

List of all variants of backfire that leads to same result
backfire , backfired , backfires , backfiring

---

Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Originally meant 'to fire backwards' in military terminology.

---

Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'backfire' was first used in military context in the early 1900s.

2. In aviation, a 'backfire' is a situation where the exhaust gases flow backwards into the engine intake.

---

Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. boomerang effect: A situation where an action intended to benefit a person or situation ultimately harms it instead.

---

Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'backfire' is often used as a metaphor for unintended consequences. In music, there is a punk band named 'Backfire!'

How to Memorize "backfire"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a fire that goes backwards, consuming the fuel source instead of moving forward.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word with unexpected consequences, like a car backfiring unexpectedly.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember BACKFIRE as an acronym for 'Beware of Consequences, Actions Not Fully Intended, Results Unexpected'.

---

Memorize "backfire" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize backfire is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

   Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.