backfire

▸ verb [no object] /bakˈfʌɪə

1 (of a vehicle or its engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust:

a car backfired in the road and shoppers ducked instinctively.

2 (of a plan or action) have an opposite and undesirable effect to what was intended:

overzealous publicity backfired on her.

▸ noun /ˈbakfʌɪə

1 a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust of a vehicle or engine:

once the engine is running smoothly, a backfire can be dramatic.

2 North American English a fire started deliberately to stop the progress of an approaching fire by creating a burned area in its path.