But his tactic could easily backfire.

This is false and it could backfire.

As a result, the entire discussion could easily backfire.

Waiting and hoping for more favorable conditions could easily backfire.

Recent history provides convincing evidence that policies based on a misrepresenting reality backfire.

But the strategy of embracing poor friendly policies that deliver little real relief could backfire.

Austerity policies in Europe threaten to backfire, causing enduring harm to growth prospects and thus stoking unemployment and budget deficits.

And, while this may seem justified by a noble goal, such policy by panic tactics rarely work, and often backfire.

Similarly, central bank independence may be a great idea when monetary instability is the binding constraint, but it will backfire where the real challenge is poor competitiveness.

In some cases, show elections can backfire against the party in power, especially if the regime believe they are popular enough to win without coercion or fraud.

Of course, no real world policy falls cleanly into any one of these ideal types. Right now, the European Central Bank worries that continued expansionary fiscal policy will backfire.

The law of unintended consequences dictates that this effort to deny ambiguity to Taiwanese activists could backfire, and instead leave mainland leaders without room to maneuver if Taiwan does attempt to revise the status quo.

Besides, for this to have happened now is a nice coincidence. Because not an hour ago, while we were on our walk, my dog was startled by a backfire and jumped straight up like a horse bucking.

Rather than owning up to the economic slowdown that current account deficits signal accepting a little less growth today for more sustainable growth in the future politicians and policymakers opt for risky growth gambits that ultimately backfire.

Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for practical wisdom as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.

The mudslinging effort would backfire, however, with Addo's supporters turning it into a viral challenge the KalypoChallenge (spelled with one less p than the actual brand name), wherein Internet users must photograph themselves with boxes of Kalyppo juice and other locally made products.