misfire
Meaning(s)
1. fail to produce the intended goal or result
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
the plan misfired
Analysis
To misfire a gun means to fail to fire it properly. To 'misfire' in terms of a plan or project means to fail to produce the intended or desired result. A misfire (noun) is a failure to fire a missile or gun correctly.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The police officer aimed his gun at the armed robber and pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. The gun misfired.
- We took a few financial risks which misfired over the years and put us in debt.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Claire has had a few misfires over the years, but generally speaking her plans are well-thought-out and successful.
- I started my speech at the conference with a joke to lighten the mood, but it ended up misfiring badly. I think I offended quite a few people.