misfire
/ˌmɪsˈfaɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmɪsˈfaɪər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r/ (ame, mw)
misfire — verb
- misfirepresent simple I / you / we / they
- misfireshe / she / it
- misfiredpast simple
- misfiring-ing form
1. to produce a result that is the opposite of, or far weaker than, what someone wa
to produce a result that is the opposite of, or far weaker than, what someone was hoping to achieve
Kian's surprise birthday plan misfired when Eri saw the cake being carried into the kitchen.
subject = surprise plan; the plan failing through accidental exposure
The minister's joke about hospital queues misfired badly and the audience sat in awkward silence.
collocation: 'joke misfired badly' + audience reaction
The advertising campaign misfired because shoppers thought the cartoon mascot looked frightening rather than cute.
Aoi's attempt to cheer her grandfather up misfired, leaving him even more upset about his hospital stay.
The new tax policy misfired, hurting the very small businesses the government had promised to support.
文法句型
[plan / joke / strategy] misfires
the [scheme] misfired badly
用法筆記
Subject is usually a plan, strategy, joke, campaign, or attempt — something that was designed with a specific outcome in mind. Frequently followed by an explanation of WHY it went wrong.
常見錯誤
2. (of a gun or its ammunition) to fail to send out a bullet at the moment the trig
(of a gun or its ammunition) to fail to send out a bullet at the moment the trigger is pulled, usually because the charge does not ignite
Lakan's hunting rifle misfired three times in the cold, and the deer escaped into the trees.
subject = rifle; consequence of cold on ignition
The old pistol misfired during the duel, and the witnesses ran for cover behind the carriage.
historical scene; subject = old pistol
Several rounds in the damaged ammunition box misfired when Pedro tested them at the range.
The starter's gun misfired at the beginning of the race, so the runners were called back to the line.
- fail to fire
neutral descriptive paraphrase used in technical writing
- jam
related but distinct — jamming means a round is stuck, misfiring means the charge did not ignite
文法句型
the [gun / rifle / pistol] misfired
a misfired round
用法筆記
Subject is the weapon or the round of ammunition, not the shooter. Often appears in past tense narrating a malfunction. Distinguish from sense 1 (a plan fails) — only sense 2 takes a firearm as subject.
常見錯誤
3. (of a petrol engine) to run roughly because the fuel inside one or more cylinder
(of a petrol engine) to run roughly because the fuel inside one or more cylinders does not burn at the correct moment
The old van's engine misfired all the way up the hill, and Imani feared they would never reach the cabin.
subject = engine; continuous misfiring during journey
Gabriel noticed the motorbike was misfiring at low speed and pulled into the workshop for a tune-up.
progressive: 'is/was misfiring' + diagnostic context
After the petrol station incident, the car began misfiring whenever the engine was cold.
Rania's lawnmower kept misfiring, so her uncle replaced the spark plug on Saturday morning.
- run smoothly
general opposite — all cylinders fire on time
- purr
informal; engine runs quietly and evenly
文法句型
the [engine / motor / car] is misfiring
[the engine] misfires on [cylinder N]
用法筆記
Subject is the engine itself or the vehicle that contains it. Often used in the progressive (`is / was misfiring`) because the fault is intermittent. Distinguish from sense 2 — sense 3 is about combustion timing in cylinders, not a firearm round.
常見錯誤
misfire — noun
1. an instance in which a gun or its ammunition fails to send out a bullet at the m
an instance in which a gun or its ammunition fails to send out a bullet at the moment the trigger is pulled
The army report blamed the soldier's injury on a misfire in the rifle's chamber.
noun pattern: 'a misfire in the [chamber]'
After the third misfire, Devika set the antique pistol down and called the museum's conservator.
countable use: 'after the third misfire'
Joaquín cleared the chamber carefully every time the shotgun had a misfire on the duck hunt.
The investigators traced the fatal accident to a single misfire of the starting cannon at the festival.
- malfunction
more general; covers many kinds of weapon failure beyond ignition
- dud
informal; refers to the failed round itself, not the firing event
- discharge
formal — the gun releases its round as intended
文法句型
a misfire of [the / a gun]
a misfire in the [chamber / cylinder]
用法筆記
Countable. Often appears with `a` or a number (`a misfire`, `three misfires`). Distinguish from sense 2 (a plan that failed) — sense 1 always involves a firearm or explosive device.
常見錯誤
2. an attempt, action, or product that fails to achieve what someone was hoping for
an attempt, action, or product that fails to achieve what someone was hoping for, often in a publicly visible way
Critics called the studio's new comedy a complete misfire, citing the wooden dialogue and dated jokes.
pattern: '[creative product] a complete misfire'
The mayor's housing announcement was widely seen as a political misfire by the local newspapers.
'a political misfire' + public-perception framing
Nellie admitted that her opening joke at the wedding was a misfire and quickly moved on to safer territory.
The product launch was a costly misfire — only four hundred units sold in its first month.
文法句型
a misfire on [topic / project]
the policy was a misfire
用法筆記
Countable. Common in journalism and reviews. Typical modifiers: 'a complete misfire', 'a political misfire', 'a costly misfire'. Distinguish from sense 1 — sense 2 covers ideas, products, and announcements rather than firearms.