v
1 [I] ignite or explode too early, esp in an internal combustion engine 过早点火或爆燃（尤指内燃机）; 回火; 逆火
*The car/engine backfired noisily. 那汽车[发动机]发生逆火引起爆鸣.
2 [I, Ipr] ~ (on sb) (fig 比喻) produce an unexpected and unwanted result esp for the people responsible for the action 产生出乎意料及事与愿违的结果（尤指对于该行为的责任者而言）
*The plot backfired (on the terrorist) when the bomb exploded too soon. 由于炸弹过早爆炸, （恐怖分子的）阴谋未能得逞. Cf 参看 misfire. n early explosion, esp in an internal combustion engine 过早爆燃（尤指内燃机）; 回火; 逆火.

v [I]
if a plan or action backfires, it has the opposite effect to the one you intended
　The company's new policy backfired when a number of employees threatened to quit.
if a car backfires, it makes a sudden loud noise because the engine is not working correctly