haywire

American  

[hey-wahy^uhr] / ˈheɪˌwaɪər /

noun

1. wire used to bind bales of hay.

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adjective

Informal.

1. in disorder.

   The town is haywire because of the bus strike.

2. out of control; disordered; crazy.

   The car went haywire. He's been haywire since he got the bad news.

haywire British  

/ ˈheɪˌwaɪə /

adjective

1. (of things) not functioning properly; disorganized (esp in the phrase go haywire )

2. (of people) erratic or crazy

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haywire Idioms  

1. see go haywire.

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Etymology

Origin of haywire

First recorded in 1900–05; hay + wire

Example Sentences

Ventyx has been developing treatments targeting a complex of proteins, called NLRP3, that researchers have found plays an important role in the body’s inflammatory response and immune diseases where that response goes haywire.

From The Wall Street Journal

I had heard a bit about this rehearsal process, and the part of my mind that needs to understand was just haywire during those first few days.”

From Los Angeles Times

When an agency goes haywire, voters will at least know who to blame.

From The Wall Street Journal

That appeared to seal Duke’s fate… until things went haywire for every ACC team not in Durham.

From The Wall Street Journal

The plunge in stocks — by about 30% in less than three weeks — sent their portfolio balances haywire.

From MarketWatch