Definitions
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The action of the burner of an explosive mixture, usually of gas and air, by which the flame runs back through the mixing- or combining-tube to the jet which delivers the fuel: due to the fact that the flow in the mixing-tube is slower than the rate at which the flame travels in such a mixture.
- n. The pre-ignition of a mixture of gas and air, in the cylinder of an internal-combustion motor, by which the piston is strongly driven backward and a partial rotation of the shaft in reverse direction results: due to a very combustible mixture with high compression in relation to its composition, or to advanced spark-adjustment. See ignition, 5, and internal-combustion motor.
Examples
“Rubio and his use of Repugs money as his own personal piggy bank is back-firing.”
“He may be getting rid of ambling tearful goal-scapegoat Dimitar Berbatov, indolent Glenn Hoddle-lite Michael Carrick, juddering, creaking, back-firing defensive Rolls Royce Rio Ferdinand and apparently want-away ace grappler Nemanja Vidic.”
The Guardian: Football transfer rumours: Kasper Schmeichel to Bayern Munich?
“If constantly attacking the Liberals is their idea of confidently governing the country, then the strategy is back-firing.”
Worth Repeating: Paul Wells Everything Is Always The Other Guy’s Fault « Unambiguously Ambidextrous
“His orders from the criminal elite are back-firing.”
“The chances of it back-firing on him seem extraordinarily high to me.”
“You add credibility to the sheer volume of Essel's support with you back-firing effort, which by the way took you many more words to explain that the Times endorsement took to reach many times the readership.”
“This whole row over admissions was concocted by Balls himself but has ended up back-firing dreadfully on him.”
“World Cup Organising Committee surely must if Blatter's "dream" is not to turn into that back-firing nightmare.”
“Alas, it is easier to see China's largesse back-firing rather than giving Taiwan a boost.”
“This move has a good chance of back-firing in the minds of independents who view abhorrently large campaign spending as worrisome.”
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