misfire
C1Neutral to formal; technical for literal meaning; more informal for figurative use.
Definition
Meaning
(of a gun or engine) fail to discharge, fire, or start properly.
(of a plan, action, or joke) fail to achieve the intended or expected outcome; to go wrong.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a verb; as a noun, refers to the instance of failing to fire. The figurative extension from a mechanical failure to a broader failure is common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning or usage. Both accept verb and noun forms.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in technical automotive/engineering contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The engine/plan misfired.It misfired on the third attempt.The joke misfired completely.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The best-laid plans can misfire.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe a failed product launch or marketing campaign.
Academic
Used in engineering texts on combustion, or metaphorically in social sciences for failed policies.
Everyday
Commonly used for jokes that fall flat or plans that go awry.
Technical
Specific term in internal combustion engines and firearms for failure to ignite properly.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The car's engine began to misfire on the motorway.
- Their ambitious scheme misfired spectacularly.
American English
- If the spark plugs are bad, the engine will misfire.
- The comedian's joke misfired with the audience.
adverb
British English
- The plan went misfiringly off course.
- Not standard; rarely used.
American English
- Not standard; rarely used.
adjective
British English
- A misfiring cylinder needs immediate attention.
- They salvaged the misfiring project.
American English
- The misfiring engine was losing power.
- He was frustrated with the misfiring strategy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old lawnmower sometimes misfires on cold mornings.
- His attempt at a friendly joke misfired.
- One misfiring spark plug can drastically reduce fuel efficiency.
- The advertising campaign misfired due to poor cultural research.
- The complex political manoeuvre misfired, leading to a crisis of confidence in the leadership.
- Diagnosing an intermittent misfire requires sophisticated engine diagnostics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MISbehaving gun that FAILS to FIRE correctly = MISFIRE.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVING A GOAL IS FIRING A WEAPON / STARTING AN ENGINE (so failure is a misfire).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with words for 'miss' or 'overshoot' (промахнуться). The core is a failure to initiate, not missing a target.
- Do not confuse with 'misfortune' (неудача).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'misfire' for a simple mistake (use 'error').
- Using 'misfire' as a transitive verb (e.g., 'He misfired the gun' is less standard; prefer 'The gun misfired').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'misfire' used LEAST appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, e.g., 'The engine had a misfire during the test.'
Both mean to fail. 'Misfire' emphasizes failure to start or initiate properly. 'Backfire' emphasizes a plan rebounding to harm its originator.
No, its figurative use for plans, jokes, or actions is very common.
Treating it as a transitive verb (e.g., 'He misfired the engine') is less standard. It is typically intransitive (e.g., 'The engine misfired').