---
title: backfire — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «backfire» in the school dictionary: If a plan backfires, it goes wrong and has the opposite result to what you wanted, often hurting you instead. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# backfire

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** plan, you, it, fuel, His, nobody · **What happens:** backfire, go, have, want, hurt, make · **To what, where:** opposite result, you, sudden loud bang, wrong place, sister, joke

<!-- .vabout -->
«backfire» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [backfire in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/backfire.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If a plan backfires, it goes wrong and has the opposite result to what you wanted, often hurting you instead.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:m1:1
# text = If a plan backfires, it goes wrong and has the opposite result to what you wanted, often hurting you instead.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	backfires	backfire	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nmod	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	often	often	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	hurting	hurt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
21	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **backfire** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a plan |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | plan |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **have** | present | plan *not said here* | the opposite result |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent result=Patient |
| 4 | **want** | past | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **hurt** | gerund | plan *not said here* | you |  |  |  | instead, often *property* | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If a car or engine backfires, it makes a sudden loud bang because fuel explodes in the wrong place.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:m2:1
# text = If a car or engine backfires, it makes a sudden loud bang because fuel explodes in the wrong place.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	advcl	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	backfires	backfire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
11	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
12	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
14	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	fuel	fuel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	explodes	explode	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | it | a sudden loud bang |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material bang=Product |
| 2 | **explode** | present | fuel |  |  | the wrong place |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in place=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His plan to scare his sister backfired when he got scared.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:x1:1
# text = His plan to scare his sister backfired when he got scared.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	backfired	backfire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scare** | to-infinitive | His plan *not said here* | plan's sister |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus sister=Experiencer |
| 2 | **backfire** | past | His plan |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **get** | past | plan |  |  |  |  | scared *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **plan** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The joke backfired, and nobody laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:x2:1
# text = The joke backfired, and nobody laughed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	_
3	backfired	backfire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	7	nsubj	_	_
7	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **backfire** | participle |  | the joke *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lying to your parents can backfire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:x3:1
# text = Lying to your parents can backfire.
1	Lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	backfire	backfire	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to your parents | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **backfire** | can | Lying |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old car backfired with a loud bang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:x4:1
# text = The old car backfired with a loud bang.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	backfired	backfire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **backfire** | participle |  | the old car *not said here* |  |  |  | with a loud bang | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her trick backfired on her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:x5:1
# text = Her trick backfired on her.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	backfired	backfire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **backfire** | participle |  | Her trick *not said here* |  |  |  | on her *= she* | tree rules |
| 2 | **trick** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom trick «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skipping lunch backfired — I felt sick in the afternoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:x6:1
# text = Skipping lunch backfired — I felt sick in the afternoon.
1	Skipping	skip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	csubj:pass	_	_
2	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	backfired	backfire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **skip** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **backfire** | participle | lunch |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  | afternoon | sick *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox's clever plan backfired in the end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:x7:1
# text = The fox's clever plan backfired in the end.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	backfired	backfire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **backfire** | participle |  | the fox's clever plan *not said here* |  |  | in the end |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **plan** |  | the fox |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The motorbike backfired and the birds flew off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backfire:x8:1
# text = The motorbike backfired and the birds flew off.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	motorbike	motorbike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	backfired	backfire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **backfire** | participle | the motorbike |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fly off** | past | the birds |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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