backfire
verb (used without object)
(of an internal-combustion engine) to have a loud, premature explosion in the intake manifold.
were backfiring
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past progressiveof backfire.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr Huang blasted the policies as a "failure" and said they were backfiring against American companies.
From BBC ● May 28, 2025
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, a senior U.S. official said recently, may well have come to the conclusion that the threats, which he once saw as leverage, were backfiring.
From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2023
By that point, Taft's positions were backfiring on him.
From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2023
Horras, whose national organization is supporting the USC breakaway groups, said the university’s group sanctions were backfiring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2022
Burt didn't like the audience, and I guess he figured his plans were backfiring when Doc didn't bluff.
From Trees Are Where You Find Them by Arthur Dekker Savage
