Phrase guide

on the fritz

prep_phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • rhymes with -ɪts

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Out of order; malfunctioning; broken.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Northern-US, US, especially

Examples

  • I'd record it, but my tape deck is on the fritz again.
  • My washing machine has gone on the fritz, and I have a load of muddy clothes to clean.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fritzed, bung, on the blink, spaz

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Unknown. Attested from 1902, originally meaning “in a bad way” or “in bad condition”, malfunctioning of an appliance. Perhaps from German name Fritz, or onomatopoeic (imitating the sound of electric sparks jumping).

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: i udu — out of order, malfunctioning
  • Danish: kaput — out of order, malfunctioning
  • German: kaputt — out of order, malfunctioning
  • German: hin — out of order, malfunctioning
  • Hungarian: gajra megy — out of order, malfunctioning
  • Hungarian: bekrepál — out of order, malfunctioning
  • Polish: zepsuty — out of order, malfunctioning
  • Portuguese: dar o berro — out of order, malfunctioning
  • Portuguese: ir-se — out of order, malfunctioning
  • Russian: сло́ман (slóman) — out of order, malfunctioning
  • Russian: поло́ман (polóman) — out of order, malfunctioning