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Meaning & use

haywire

adjective·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˈheɪwaɪə/
US/ˈheɪwaɪr/

Meanings

  1. adjectiveafter a verbinformal

    Out of control and working wrongly, often because of a sudden fault or confusion.

    Grammar: Usually follows go or be: the system went haywire, not a haywire system.

    Patterns

    • go haywire
    • be haywire

    My phone went haywire and started calling random numbers.

    The plan went haywire as soon as the rain began.

    The thermostat has gone haywire, and the house is freezing.

  2. adjectiveafter a verbinformal

    Wild, mixed up or in a state of disorder.

    Grammar: Describes people, schedules or machines that are in chaos.

    Patterns

    • send something haywire
    • be all haywire

    The sudden storm sent the airline's schedule haywire.

    Her emotions were haywire after the news.

    With three children crying, the morning routine was totally haywire.

Common combinations

go haywire
The computers went haywire during the power cut.
send something haywire
A software update sent the whole system haywire.
completely haywire
The weather forecast turned completely haywire.
gone haywire
The compass has gone haywire near the magnet.
hormones go haywire
His hormones went haywire during the illness.

Synonyms and how they differ

berserk
Berserk suggests wild, violent or frenzied behavior, while haywire is more often about machines or plans failing.
out of control
Out of control is the neutral, general phrase, whereas haywire is lively, informal and usually points to a sudden breakdown.
chaotic
Chaotic describes a state of disorder without suggesting the sudden fault that go haywire does.
crazy
Crazy is broader and can describe people or ideas, while haywire is most natural for things that stop working properly.

Opposites

orderlyunder control

Word family

hay noun
dried grass used as animal feed, and the first part of the compound
wire noun
a thin metal thread, and the second part of the compound

Commonly confused: haywire or awry? haywire or berserk?

haywire vs awry

Awry means off course or wrong, as in 'plans went awry', while haywire is more informal and suggests a sudden, total breakdown.

haywire vs berserk

Berserk means violently out of control, while haywire is more about malfunction or confusion.

Practice

Complete the sentence. After the storm, the traffic lights ___ and caused a huge jam.

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