backfire
verb
• (of a vehicle or its engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust.
• "a car backfired in the road and shoppers ducked instinctively"
• (of a plan or action) have an opposite and undesirable effect to what was intended.
• "overzealous publicity backfired on her"
Similar:
rebound,
boomerang,
come back,
have an adverse effect,
be self-defeating,
be counterproductive,
fail,
miscarry,
go wrong,
blow up in someone's face,
redound on,
backfire
noun
• a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust of a vehicle or engine.
• "once the engine is running smoothly, a backfire can be dramatic"
• a fire started deliberately to stop the progress of an approaching fire by creating a burned area in its path.
