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n. - A miscalculation that recoils on its maker; A loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine.

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Usage examples (40)
  • Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble
  • What will backfire is when Reps link Obama to Carter.
  • The backfire from a bread truck coming around the corner was too close for comfort when I realized what was happening.
  • The phenomenon - known as "backfire" - is "a natural defense mechanism to avoid that cognitive dissonance."
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The Open Dictionary of English is a collaborative project, based on Open Source materials, LearnThat resources, and partner APIs.
We give special thanks to our LearnThat volunteers, as well as Princeton University and Wiktionary for their Open Source word data. We're also grateful for the support given by Google, Wordnik.com, Dictionary.com, Stands4.com and YouTube, OEDILF.com, Kylescholz.com, Best-Practice.com, Forvo.com, as well as the generous Creative Commons community.