miss fire

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Charley looked at his weapon very gravely, and put on another pair of caps, remarking, "I never had a gun miss fire like that with me before."

From Harper's Young People, April 6, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly by Various

My own revolver was a Deane and Adams, and could be depended upon—the Lefaucheux could not, for the cartridges were so old that twenty-five per cent, of them would miss fire.

From The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton 1902 by Becke, Louis

The match might be a burned one, it might miss fire, or go out before he had an opportunity to kindle the leaves, or the leaves themselves might be too damp to burn.

From The White Crystals Being an Account of the Adventures of Two Boys by Garis, Howard Roger

"Anglicism" and "British gold" were blunderbusses which, in the present popular irritation against France, had for a time lost their usefulness, and were apt to miss fire.

From James Madison by Gay, Sydney Howard

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.

From Hidden Gold by Anthony, Wilder