miss fire

Fail to achieve the anticipated result, as in Recycling cardboard seemed like a good idea but it missed fire. First recorded in 1727, this phrase originally described a firearm failing to go off and has been used figuratively since the mid-1800s.

miss fire

1. To fail to discharge. Used of a firearm.

2. To fail to achieve the anticipated result.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Adi (2)	-	Indonesian
As'ad	-	Arabic
Themistokles	-	Ancient Greek
Avraham	ah-vrah-HAHM (Jewish)	Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Aulis	OW-lees	Finnish
Viola	['vaiələ]