haywire

/'hei,waiə/

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The word "haywire" can be understood in a few different ways, so let’s break it down.

Basic Definition:

1. As an adjective: "Haywire" means that something is not working properly or is out of control. For example, if a machine is malfunctioning or if a plan goes wrong, you might say it has gone haywire.

   • Example: "The printer went haywire and started printing random pages."

2. As a noun: It refers to a type of wire used to tie bales of hay together. This is a more specific and less common use of the word.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "haywire" as an adjective when talking about something that is malfunctioning or has gone wrong.
• It is often used informally, typically in casual conversations.

Advanced Usage:

• You might say someone is "going haywire" when they are acting irrationally or losing control of their emotions.

Variants:

• Verb form: There isn’t a direct verb form of "haywire," but you might hear phrases like “to go haywire” to describe the action of something becoming chaotic.

Different Meanings:

• Informal/slang usage: In casual conversation, if someone says they feel "haywire," it can mean they are feeling mentally confused or stressed.

Synonyms:

• Some synonyms for "haywire" when used as an adjective include:
  • Out of control
  • Crazy
  • Malfunctioning
  • Erratic

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs that use "haywire," but you might hear people say “everything went haywire” to mean that things did not go as planned.

Examples in Sentences:

1. Adjective: "After the storm, the power lines were all haywire."
2. Noun: "We need some haywire to keep these bales secure."

Summary:

In summary, "haywire" is a versatile word often used to describe something that is not functioning correctly or is out of control. It can also refer to a type of wire used in farming.

Academic

Adjective

1. not functioning properly
   • something is amiss
   • has gone completely haywire
   • something is wrong with the engine
2. informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
   • it used to drive my husband balmy

Noun

1. wire for tying up bales of hay

Synonyms

• amiss
• awry
• wrong
• balmy
• barmy
• bats
• batty
• bonkers
• buggy
• cracked
• crackers
• daft
• dotty
• fruity
• kooky
• kookie
• loco
• loony
• loopy