backfire
v.v. to have the opposite result from what you wanted. You use this when a plan or a trick fails and causes problems for the person who tried it.
v. to produce an adverse or unintended effect that is opposite to what was originally planned. Often describes strategies, jokes, or policies that harm the initiator.
His plan to surprise her might backfire if she stays late at work.
The company's aggressive marketing campaign backfired when customers felt the ads were too intrusive and started boycotting the brand.
Economists warned that the new trade tariffs could backfire by increasing the cost of raw materials for domestic manufacturers, ultimately slowing the very industry they were meant to protect.
From back + fire.
The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
The plan backfired him.The plan backfired on him.Backfire is intransitive; to indicate the person affected, you must use the preposition 'on'.