on the fritz
English
Etymology
Unknown.
1902, originally meaning “in a bad way” or “in bad condition”, malfunctioning of an appliance. Perhaps from German name Fritz, or by onomatopoeia.[1][2]
Adjective
on the fritz (not comparable)
- (of electrical or mechanical appliances) Out of order; malfunctioning; broken.
- I'd record it, but my VCR is on the fritz again.
- My washing machine has gone on the fritz, and I have a load of muddy clothes to deal with.
- 2004, Lisa Marie Rice, Woman On the Run, page 32,
- No ′40s movie heroine worth the name would have a house that let in gusts of gelid air, had a heating system that went on the fritz constantly and leaked.
- 2006, Nero Blanc, Death on the Diagonal, page 191,
- “Or your cell-phone reception went on the fritz. We know how often that happens.”
- 2010, Ralph Bowersox, Ralph's True Stories: Entertaining Chronicles of Life in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, Late 1920s through the Present Day, page 185,
- Some time ago, a tenant called me and said her refrigerator was on the fritz. I had a spare, so I took it down to her and exchanged it for her old one.
Synonyms
- (out of order): bung (Australian), on the blink (UK, Australia), spaz (offensive)
Derived terms
- fritz up (obsolete, 1910s)
References
- ^ World Wide Words: On The Fritz, by Michael Quinion
- ^ The Mavens’ Word of the Day: fritz, on the, Random House