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20th century
- When things go wrong or out of control, they are said to go haywire. The expression originated in America in the early 20th century and its first use was to describe something that was makeshift or poorly constructed.
idiomorigins.org/origin/haywire
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What does go haywire mean?
When did the phrase 'to go haywire' come out?
Why is hay wire called Haywire?
What does it mean if something has gone haywire?
What does it mean if a machine goes haywire?
What does the phrase 'haywire outfit' mean?
What's the origin of the phrase 'Go haywire'? Hay-wire is the light wire that was used in baling machines to tie up bales of hay. At the turn of the 20th century the expression ‘a haywire outfit’ began to be used in the USA.
Jul 5, 2017 · This figurative use was primarily found in the phrase haywire outfit, first recorded in Terms used in Forestry and Logging (Washington, D.C. – 1905), a bulletin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Forestry: Hay wire outfit. A contemptuous term for loggers with poor logging equipment.
Going haywire is a perfect example of a confusing idiom. Let’s learn about this term and how to use it correctly in speech and writing. What Does It Mean to Go Haywire? To go haywire means to be out of control, go crazy, or otherwise not be in your right mind.
- English Teacher
As early as 1905, the phrase a ‘haywire outfit’, was in use describing ill-equipped, unreliable companies using makeshift equipment. To go haywire is first recorded from the 1920s and has now become part of Standard English.
Nov 25, 2017 · The expression “to go haywire” has several meanings. “To go haywire” can mean to turn crazy, unreasonable or wild, as in this example: “If I don’t take a break from work soon, I am ...
- VOA Learning English
Nov 25, 2017 · The expression "to go haywire" has several meanings. "To go haywire" can mean to turn crazy, unreasonable or wild, as in this example: "If I don't take a break from work soon, I am going to go haywire!"
Sep 7, 2022 · By 1915, there is evidence that “to go haywire” was akin to something going awry or out of control, just as the wire would do if left alone for too long.
