Don't you use that phrase in the USA?.. I thought everyone in the English speaking world said that... never occurred to me it might just be us...
Although I am certainly familiar with "haywire" as a word and hear it used often, I prefer "awry," and would prefer saying that "something has gone awry," and I particularly prefer that because I know that a large percentage of those I would use it on, here in Maine, wouldn't know what it meant.
A couple of weeks ago I was watching a British crime drama and one of the detectives said: "We're after the organ grinder, not the monkey."
Y'know ..thinking about it, I haven't heard anyone say that for years. I think it's gone out of fashion as a saying...
also a very common phrase... it can also be used in a derogatory way..eg.. talking to your boss for example, looking for answers to an important problem, and his assistent keeps answering instead ... one might say '' I'm talking to the Organ grinder not the/ his monkey
More commonly Tom... the saying has evolved into ..I wouldn't touch her/him with YOURS>... ( your bargepole or private parts)...
We went around in that other forum once about "Canucks". Not British, I take it, but turned out a Canadian calling a fellow Canadian a Canuck was usually accepted in jest. However an American saying it, at all, to anyone, was taken as appalling. Frank
Slightly off topic. I always refer to an Americans as a YANKs In the early 60s on a British Army base and an artillery range (Larkhill) We had Americans visiting and in the bar that night a couple and I got drunk they were in the American Navy and in uniform. Called him a Yank he got a bit annoyed. Turned up the sleeve on his uniform which the showed Confederate flag. Said to me if an officer knew about this he would be on a charge as he was no stinking Yank We had a great night after... even with the Yank having to drink English beer PS he was a Texan boy
Apparently 'scumbag' has different slang definitions in America vs England. Here it's defined as a contemptible or objectionable person. In Brit slang it has a sexual definition, and pretty much guarantees a ban on any of their forums.