MISFIRE

[verb] [I] - to fail to fire, explode, or burn as intended or expectedHe tried to shoot me, but his gun misfired and I managed to escape.Two of the missiles misfired because of computer problems.When an engine misfires the fuel inside it starts to burn at the wrong moment.That loud bang is caused by the engine misfiring.(figurative) The coroner said that the boy's death resulted from a practical joke that had misfired (= that had not happened as intended).