mis ‧ fire /ˌmɪsˈfaɪə $ -ˈfaɪr/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
1 . if a plan or joke misfires, it goes wrong and does not have the result that you intended ⇨ backfire :
His attempt at a joke misfired.
I was worried that the plan might misfire.
2 . if an engine misfires, the petrol mixture does not burn at the right time
3 . if a gun misfires, the bullet does not come out