The idea was dangerous and could easily backfire.

Worse still, the idea can backfire - particularly if people come to suspect that ulterior motives are at work.

The whole idea would have backfired if The Smiths audience had rejected James.

Even if the market is relatively small, some critics say the idea will inevitably backfire, particularly given the new skittishness of subway riders.

The idea backfired; the Jets did not last the season.

It is a market the Big Three car makers created a few years ago, but the idea has backfired.

This idea backfired when Prince, while falling to his death, shot and killed Priest with a crossbow.

I thought I could confuse the issue, but the idea backfired.

Detroit created this market in an effort to address the slump in new-car sales a few years ago, but the idea backfired.

That is why I believe that the idea of "Take from the rich" backfired on the very people who voted it in.