on the fritz
on the fritz
Not working correctly; acting strangely; malfunctioning. Our washer is on the fritz, so I'm on my way to the laundromat. Mom called the repairman because our TV is on the fritz again.
See also: fritz, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
on the fritz
and on the blinknot operating; not operating correctly. This vacuum cleaner is on the fritz. Let's get it fixed. How long has it been on the blink?
See also: fritz, on
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
on the fritz
see under on the blink.
See also: fritz, on
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
on the fritz
AMERICAN, OLD-FASHIONEDA piece of machinery that is on the fritz is not working properly. My mother's toaster went on the fritz. `They're setting up communications,' Rizzuto said. `But the goddamned mobile command post has gone on the fritz.' Note: The usual British expression is on the blink.
See also: fritz, on
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
on the ˈfritz
(American English, informal) not working: The TV is on the fritz again.See also: fritz, on
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
on the fritz
1. mod. not functioning properly. My watch is on the fritz.
2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. She drank till she was totally on the fritz.
See also: fritz, on
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
on the fritz
Out of commission; broken. No one really knows the origin of this term, which has been used since about 1900. Everyone agrees that Fritz was a derogatory name for a German, but how—or even if—it became equated with disrepair has been forgotten. P. G. Wodehouse used it in Bill the Conqueror (1924): “Everything’s on the fritz nowadays.”
See also: fritz, on
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- be on the fritz
- fritz
- on the blink
- be on the blink
- blink
- go on the fritz
- go phut
- be the chief cook and bottle washer
- washer
- make the scene