Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

on the fritz

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.42 in modern English

Syllables: on the fritz
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

1

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Out of order; malfunctioning; broken.

American usage

Example Sentences

"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."
"Actually, no one had noticed, from what I could tell, though I was alarmed to hear about it. Why was our pilot telling us about questionable brakes and a computer on the fritz when we still had a landing to worry about five hours ahead?"
"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."
"“Or your cell-phone reception went on the fritz. We know how often that happens.”"
"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."

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).

Usage

American usage

Phrases

fritz up

Synonyms

fritzed bung on the blink spaz

Rhymes With

it's its gets hits fits bits sits tits admits permits kits pits

Questions

What does on the fritz mean?: Out of order; malfunctioning; broken.
Where does on the fritz come from?: 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).

How to pronounce on the fritz

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “on the fritz”.
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