Synonyms

go haywire

Cultural

To break down or cease to function properly: “Everything was going smoothly until the computer started to go haywire.”

go haywire Idioms

Become wildly confused, out of control, or crazy. For example, The plans for the party have gone haywire, or His enemies accused the mayor of going haywire. This term alludes to the wire used for bundling hay, which is hard to handle and readily tangled. [First half of 1900s]

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.

It sounds like things can go haywire fast.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

It makes it much easier for some immune cells to go haywire and drive excessive inflammation in the bowels.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2024

There's every reason to believe this trial could go haywire.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2024

It's during this crucial period of cell division that things can go haywire.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2024

Their powers tended to make electronic gadgets go haywire.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023