go haywire
Spin out completely
To go haywire is to malfunction, become erratic, or spin out of control.
The phrase comes from the wire used to bale hay, which when cut springs unpredictably in all directions.
Machines go haywire when they break down chaotically: The computer went haywire and deleted everything.
Plans, situations, or people can go haywire too: Everything went haywire after the merger was announced.
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- glitchMinor system fault
- on the fritzMalfunctioning, out of order
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- fall apartBreak into pieces
come undone · crazy · haywire · berserk · run amok · fritz · sputter · short-circuit · blow a fuse · meltdown · chaos · unravel · spiral · crash · bonkers · wonky · kaput · snap
behavioral control
go haywirestay calm
Remain unruffled
keep it together · keep one's head · stay grounded · keep cool · keep one's cool