miss fire

Idioms  

1. Fail to achieve the anticipated result, as in Recycling cardboard seemed like a good idea but it missed fire. First recorded in 1727, this phrase originally described a firearm failing to go off and has been used figuratively since the mid-1800s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

miss fire

After all the "Bolton Baby" might miss fire by a second or two.

From The World Peril of 1910 by Griffith, George Chetwynd

It is a capital job, well planted; and if it does not miss fire, it will bring plenty of fish to net, and no mistake.

From The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 4 of 6 by Sue, Eugène

The thought occurred to him, but what should his gun miss fire?

From Great African Travellers From Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley by Kingston, William Henry Giles

You don't want to miss fire when you get a chance to shoot at a fox.

From Ben Comee A Tale of Rogers's Rangers, 1758-59 by Canavan, M. J. (Michael Joseph)

Villiam assumed a thoughtful demeanor, and says he: "Is it a miss fire?"

From The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers. Series 2 by Newell, R. H. (Robert Henry)

Related Words

• abort
• fall through