misfire
/ˌmɪsˈfaɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmɪsˈfaɪər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r/ (ame, mw)
misfire — 動詞
- 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
事與願違
計畫或行動的結果完全不如預期
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.
Kian 的生日驚喜計畫事與願違，因為 Eri 看見蛋糕被端進廚房。
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.
部長拿醫院排隊問題開的玩笑徹底失敗，聽眾尷尬地一片沉默。
collocation: 'joke misfired badly' + audience reaction
The advertising campaign misfired because shoppers thought the cartoon mascot looked frightening rather than cute.
這個廣告活動事與願違，因為消費者覺得卡通吉祥物看起來嚇人而不是可愛。
Aoi's attempt to cheer her grandfather up misfired, leaving him even more upset about his hospital stay.
Aoi 想讓爺爺開心的嘗試適得其反，讓他對住院這件事更難過了。
The new tax policy misfired, hurting the very small businesses the government had promised to support.
新的稅收政策事與願違，反而傷害了政府承諾要扶持的小型企業。
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
啞火；卡彈
扣下板機時槍枝未能擊發子彈
(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.
Lakan 的獵槍在寒冷中啞火了三次，那頭鹿就此跑進樹林裡。
subject = rifle; consequence of cold on ignition
The old pistol misfired during the duel, and the witnesses ran for cover behind the carriage.
那把舊手槍在決鬥時啞火，旁觀者紛紛躲到馬車後面避難。
historical scene; subject = old pistol
Several rounds in the damaged ammunition box misfired when Pedro tested them at the range.
Pedro 在靶場測試時，那箱受損彈藥裡好幾發子彈都啞火了。
The starter's gun misfired at the beginning of the race, so the runners were called back to the line.
比賽開始時，發令槍啞火了，選手們被叫回起跑線上。
- 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
點火不順
汽油引擎因汽缸點火時機錯誤而運轉不順
(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.
那輛老貨車的引擎一路上山都點火不順，Imani 擔心他們永遠到不了小木屋。
subject = engine; continuous misfiring during journey
Gabriel noticed the motorbike was misfiring at low speed and pulled into the workshop for a tune-up.
Gabriel 發現摩托車低速時引擎點火不順，便把車牽進修車廠調整。
progressive: 'is/was misfiring' + diagnostic context
After the petrol station incident, the car began misfiring whenever the engine was cold.
自從加油站那件事之後，這輛車每次冷車就開始點火不順。
Rania's lawnmower kept misfiring, so her uncle replaced the spark plug on Saturday morning.
Rania 家的割草機一直點火不順，她叔叔週六早上換掉了火星塞。
- 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 — 名詞
1. an instance in which a gun or its ammunition fails to send out a bullet at the m
啞火事件
槍枝或彈藥未能正常擊發的一次情況
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.
軍方報告把那名士兵的傷勢歸咎於步槍彈膛內的一次啞火。
noun pattern: 'a misfire in the [chamber]'
After the third misfire, Devika set the antique pistol down and called the museum's conservator.
經歷三次啞火之後，Devika 放下那把古董手槍，撥電話給博物館的修復師。
countable use: 'after the third misfire'
Joaquín cleared the chamber carefully every time the shotgun had a misfire on the duck hunt.
Joaquín 每次打獵時霰彈槍卡彈，他都會仔細清空彈膛。
The investigators traced the fatal accident to a single misfire of the starting cannon at the festival.
調查人員把這場致命意外追溯到節慶時禮砲的一次啞火。
- 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
失敗之作
公開嘗試或作品未達預期的失敗
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.
影評人稱這部新喜劇是徹底的失敗之作，指出對白生硬、笑話陳舊。
pattern: '[creative product] a complete misfire'
The mayor's housing announcement was widely seen as a political misfire by the local newspapers.
市長公布的住房政策被當地報紙普遍視為一次政治上的失敗之作。
'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.
Nellie 承認她婚宴上的開場玩笑是個失敗之作，便趕緊轉到比較安全的話題。
The product launch was a costly misfire — only four hundred units sold in its first month.
這次產品上市是代價高昂的失敗之作——第一個月只賣出四百台。
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.