how to pronounce backfire

/ˈbækˌfaɪɹ/

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the above transcription of backfire is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

backfire is pronounced in two syllables

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example pitch curve for pronunciation of backfire

bækfaɪɹ

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video examples of backfire pronunciation

An example use of backfire in a speech by a native speaker of american english:

“… other words this can backfire and in …”

meanings of backfire

verb:

  1. To experience a premature ignition of fuel or an ignition of exhaust gases, making a popping sound.
  2. To fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.
  3. To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.

noun:

  1. A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.
  2. An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.
  3. Alternative spelling of back fire.

backfire frequency in english - C2+ level of CEFR

the word backfire occurs in english on average 0.9 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.

topics backfire can be related to

it is hard to perfectly classify words into specific topics since each word can have many context of its use, but our machine-learning models believe that backfire can be often used in the following areas:

1) transport and travel;

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