Others say the scare tactics can sometimes backfire.
Another risk is that restrictions placed on firms that receive public money backfire.
Beijing also has resorted to the blunt tool of freezing prices of electricity and some other basic goods, but that is starting to backfire.
Afghan feminists-and there are such brave souls-say challenging this may not be the most urgent task in a society where imposing change from outside can often backfire.
If it has any effect, the law may backfire.
But it can backfire if it's perceived as "micromanaging" an employee, and undermines his or her self-confidence.
But Cao said those who are considering getting a quick divorce should be cautious that the tactic does not backfire because the divorce might give an unhappy spouse a convenient exit.
When there is little else going on it can easily backfire and spin out of control.
Cooler heads retort that this would backfire: Ms Sotomayor will be confirmed anyway and yet more Hispanic and female voters will desert the Republican Party.
Using an Advisory Board as a Promo Tool Will backfire.
On the other hand, phony stagecraft, which isn't tied to truth or to an uplifting vision, will nearly always backfire, especially in today's media-savvy world.
This can backfire: Vodafone faced criticism in June after an advert linked it to the "people power" of the revolution.
Even assuming it's the latter, though, this bit of PR could backfire.
Pressuring them to take a bite Demanding that a child eat at least one bite of everything seems reasonable, but it's likely to backfire.
Rewards work under some circumstances but sometimes they backfire. Spectacularly.
But this could backfire.
