Antonyms for miss fire


Grammar : Verb
Spell : fahyuh r
Phonetic Transcription : faɪər


Definition of miss fire

Origin :
  • c.1200, furen, figurative, "arouse, excite;" literal sense of "set fire to" is from late 14c., from fire (n.). The Old English verb fyrian "to supply with fire" apparently did not survive into Middle English.
  • The sense of "sack, dismiss" is first recorded 1885 in American English (earlier "throw (someone) out" of some place, 1871), probably from a play on the two meanings of discharge: "to dismiss from a position," and "to fire a gun," fire in the second sense being from "set fire to gunpowder," attested from 1520s. Of bricks, pottery, etc., from 1660s. Related: Fired; firing. Fired up "angry" is from 1824. Firing squad is attested from 1904.
  • As in miscarry : verb fail to attain goal
Example sentences :
  • After all the "Bolton Baby" might miss fire by a second or two.
  • Extract from : « The World Peril of 1910 » by George Griffith
  • You don't want to miss fire when you get a chance to shoot at a fox.
  • Extract from : « Ben Comee » by M. J. (Michael Joseph) Canavan
  • Even with the most elaborate care it was liable to miss fire.
  • Extract from : « Sketches New and Old, Complete » by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
  • The peasants say that a knife has more shots in it than a revolver, and does not miss fire.'
  • Extract from : « Corleone » by F. Marion Crawford
  • Villiam assumed a thoughtful demeanor, and says he: "Is it a miss fire?"
  • Extract from : « The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers. Series 2 » by Robert H. Newell
  • There isn't one chance in a thousand for us to miss fire, but you must follow—not lead.
  • Extract from : « John Marsh's Millions » by Charles Klein
  • What if it should miss fire, or even if igniting, I should fail with it to light the dry leaves?
  • Extract from : « Lost Lenore » by Charles Beach
  • Because of their complexity and subtlety they often miss fire and fail of their purpose.
  • Extract from : « How to Teach » by George Drayton Strayer and Naomi Norsworthy
  • The revolver might miss fire, in which case all hope would be gone.
  • Extract from : « The Cave in the Mountain » by Lieut. R. H. Jayne
  • The hammer that struck this shell didn't hit true; not so far off as to miss fire, you understand, but it ain't in line exactly.
  • Extract from : « Hidden Gold » by Wilder Anthony

Synonyms for miss fire

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019