backfire
B2Neutral to informal; common in news, business, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To have the opposite effect to what was intended, causing harm or problems for the person who initiated the action.
Literally, for an engine or gun to explode or ignite in the wrong direction, causing damage. Figuratively, for a plan, strategy, or action to fail in a way that harms its originator.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word inherently implies a negative, unintended consequence for the agent. It is not used for neutral or positive outcomes. The subject is typically a plan, action, or strategy, not a person (e.g., 'His plan backfired', not 'He backfired').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use the term identically for figurative and literal (mechanical) senses.
Connotations
Identical connotations of failure and self-inflicted harm.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Plan/action] backfired (on [person])It backfired.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “blow up in someone's face”
- “come home to roost (similar concept of consequences)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when a marketing campaign, negotiation tactic, or corporate strategy produces negative results for the company that implemented it.
Academic
Used in social sciences to describe policies or interventions that produce the opposite of their intended effect.
Everyday
Commonly used for social situations, jokes, or personal plans that go awry and cause embarrassment or trouble.
Technical
In engineering, the literal combustion of fuel in an internal combustion engine's intake or exhaust system.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government's harsh new policy completely backfired, leading to widespread protests.
- Trying to embarrass his colleague in the meeting badly backfired on him.
American English
- Her attempt to spread rumors about a coworker totally backfired, and she lost everyone's trust.
- The marketing stunt backfired when the public found it offensive.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (The participial adjective 'backfiring' is used, e.g., 'a backfiring scheme').
American English
- N/A (The participial adjective 'backfiring' is used, e.g., 'a backfiring political ad').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His joke did not make people laugh. It backfired.
- The manager's plan to make people work longer hours backfired. Many employees quit.
- The aggressive advertising campaign backfired spectacularly, damaging the brand's reputation.
- The sanctions were intended to cripple the regime's economy but backfired, instead fostering greater national resilience and self-sufficiency.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine starting a small fire (a plan) behind you to scare someone, but the wind blows it BACK towards you, setting your own clothes on FIRE. Your action BACKFIRED.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACTIONS ARE PROJECTILES / CAUSATION IS FORCE. A poorly aimed projectile (action) reverses direction and hits the shooter.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'задняя огонь' or 'обратный огонь'. The correct conceptual translation is 'дать обратный эффект', 'обернуться против', 'привести к обратным результатам'.
- Avoid using 'backfire' for simple failure without the element of self-harm. 'Провалиться' is a broader 'to fail'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it with a person as subject: *'He backfired when he lied.' (Incorrect) vs. 'His lie backfired on him.' (Correct).
- Using it for a positive surprise: *'The party backfired and everyone loved it.' (Incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'backfire' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, never. 'Backfire' exclusively describes a negative, unintended consequence that harms the originator. For a positive surprise, use 'turn out better than expected' or 'be a blessing in disguise'.
'Fail' is general. 'Backfire' is a specific type of failure where the action causes harm specifically to the person who initiated it. A failed plan just doesn't work. A backfired plan actively makes things worse for the planner.
It is neutral. It is acceptable in formal writing (e.g., academic papers, news reports) but is also extremely common in everyday speech and informal contexts.
Yes, this is a common and correct pattern. E.g., 'The trick backfired on the prankster.' The preposition 'on' is used to specify who is negatively affected.