awry

/ə'rai/

Definition

Adjective:
- Not functioning properly; amiss: Describes a situation or thing that is wrong, faulty, or has deviated from the intended or normal course.
- Turned or twisted to one side; askew: Describes something that is not straight, level, or symmetrical; it is crooked or out of alignment.
Adverb:
- Away from the correct or expected course: Indicates that something has gone wrong or deviated from the plan.
- Turned or twisted to one side: Indicates a position that is not straight or aligned.

Usage Examples

Adjective:
- His tie was awry after the long journey. (His tie was crooked after the long journey.)
- Something is awry with the computer system; it keeps crashing. (Something is wrong with the computer system; it keeps crashing.)
Adverb:
- Our vacation plans went awry due to the storm. (Our vacation plans went wrong due to the storm.)
- The picture hung awry on the wall. (The picture hung crookedly on the wall.)

Advanced Usage

"to go/run awry": This is a common phrase meaning to fail, to go wrong, or to not proceed as planned.
- The experiment went awry when the temperature couldn't be controlled.
"to look awry": To look at something with suspicion or disapproval; to view something askance.
- The manager looked awry at the proposal, sensing a potential problem.

Variants and Related Words

Askew (adj/adv): Not in a straight or level position; crooked. This is a close synonym for the physical sense of .
- His hat was sitting askew on his head.
Amiss (adj/adv): Not quite right; inappropriate or faulty. This is a close synonym for the functional sense of .
- She sensed something was amiss in the report.

Synonyms

Related Phrases

"to knock something awry": To cause something to become crooked or misaligned.
- He accidentally knocked the vase awry.
"awry with pain/emotion": Describing a facial expression contorted by strong feeling.
- Her features were twisted awry with grief.

Idioms

"Things go awry": A general idiom meaning that plans or situations have gone wrong.
- Despite careful planning, things went awry at the last minute.

Adjective

not functioning properly
- something is amiss
- has gone completely haywire
- something is wrong with the engine
turned or twisted toward one side
- a...youth with a gorgeous red necktie all awry- G.K.Chesterton
- his wig was, as the British say, skew-whiff

Adverb

turned or twisted to one side
- rugs lying askew
- with his necktie twisted awry
away from the correct or expected course
- something has gone awry in our plans
- something went badly amiss in the preparations

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