Backfire and Collapse

Backfire

Backfire verb - To have the reverse of the desired or expected effect.

Usage example: my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up sobbing that everyone had forgotten her birthday

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Collapse and backfire are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Collapse" instead a verb "Backfire".

Nearby Words: backfired, backfiring

Collapse verb - To fall down or in as a result of physical pressure.

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Backfire and collapse are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Backfire" instead a verb "Collapse".

thanks	backfire thanks	collapse thanks
moment	backfire moment	collapse moment
time	backfire time	collapse time
way	backfire way	collapse way
Other words: world, times, moments.

Two variations on this trope exist: In one, the rambunctious behavior around the soufflé is quieted down with no ill effects, only to have a relatively-distant disturbance (slamming door, car backfire) collapse the soufflé after it is "safe" (the soufflé can be replaced by say, a sleeping baby).

Source: Endangered Soufflé

Cite this Source

Collapse and Backfire. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/backfire/collapse

Backfire & Collapse. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/backfire/collapse>.

Collapse or Backfire. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/backfire/collapse.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "backfire" and "collapse" have occurred on timeline