Basic Details
Word: Misfire
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To fail to fire or work properly, especially when a bullet or shot does not go off as intended.
Synonyms: Fumble, fail, malfunction
Antonyms: Succeed, function, work
Idioms and Phrases
- Misfire the message: To convey a message incorrectly or fail to communicate as intended. Example: "His attempt at giving feedback misfired the message, and she felt hurt instead."
- Nothing misfired: When nothing went wrong or failed. Example: "Everything went smoothly during the event; nothing misfired."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The engine misfired, causing the car to shudder and stop suddenly on the road.
Example 2: During the demonstration, the toy rocket misfired and didnt launch as expected.
Example 3: His plan to impress the audience misfired when he forgot his lines during the speech.
Fun Fact
The term "misfire" originally comes from the context of firearms, where it described a situation when a gun fails to discharge a bullet, often due to mechanical issues. Over time, it expanded in usage to apply to other situations where something fails to perform as intended.
Famous Quote
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "misfire" mean?
a) To work perfectly
b) To fail to fire or function properly
c) To explode
d) To go off without warning
Answer: b) To fail to fire or function properly
2. Which of these is a synonym of "misfire"?
a) Succeed
b) Malfunction
c) Achieve
d) Flourish
Answer: b) Malfunction
3. What is the opposite of "misfire"?
a) Fail
b) Function
c) Malfunction
d) Misinterpret
Answer: b) Function
4. Which sentence uses "misfire" correctly?
a) The technology misfired and resulted in the project being late.
b) The misfire is a beautiful song.
c) They misfire at the concert.
d) She loves to misfire her garden.
Answer: a) The technology misfired and resulted in the project being late.
5. Which idiom best describes a communication failure?
a) Nothing misfired
b) Misfire the message
c) Smooth sailing
d) Hit the mark
Answer: b) Misfire the message
