on the fritz
Of an electrical or mechanical appliances, out of order; malfunctioning; broken.
I'd record it, but my tape deck is on the fritz again.
fritz
/fɹɪts/
noun 3name 3verb 1
Collocations
5ADJ.
confident, fresh
VERB + FRITZ
book, concerned, fish, fishes, name, polish, written
FRITZ + NOUN
cabana, cabanossi, leiber
PREP.
in, on
ADV.
again, easily, often
Definitions
noun
1
A German person, usually male.
Someone sent up a shout and word came that oil had begun to show on the water—that meant one less submarine afloat! Again the roar of guns—again the shout! Two Fritzes sunk. . . !
name
1
A name used to represent the German people (particularly the German armed forces) as a group.
But if Fritz is stationed in that patch of woodland, we've got no chance!
You! Fritz! Tell us where the ammunition's kept!
2
A diminutive of the male given name Friedrich.
Uncle Fritz “talked eyes” when he was the most deeply aggrieved; and little Fritz found it most unpleasant to have an American relative addicted to the same bad habit. She came into the room just then and there, and, seeing the two Fritzes in such confidential discussion, would have speedily withdrawn, had not the gentleman risen and begged her to remain.
“Has she any children?” asked the practical Johannes. / “Just one—a nice boy, too. Thirteen. Fritz is his name.” Jakob chuckled. “Just the same as your brother. That’s a good one—there’ll be two Fritzes in one family!”
3
A surname from German.
The highly anticipated all-American matchup between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe — marking the first US Open semifinals between two US men in nearly 20 years — will cost you quite a few Honey Deuces to attend.
noun
1
The state of being defective.
2
A type of processed meat sausage; devon
Generally, cooked deli products include Devon, Strasbourg sausage, Polish sausage, fritz, cabanossi or cabana, mortadella, and well-cooked roast beef (brown/grey in colour).
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
fritz up
To go on the fritz, to become broken or malfunctioning.
Example Bank
601
Someone sent up a shout and word came that oil had begun to show on the water—that meant one less submarine afloat! Again the roar of guns—again the shout! Two Fritzes sunk. . . !
Wiktionary02
But if Fritz is stationed in that patch of woodland, we've got no chance!
Wiktionary03
You! Fritz! Tell us where the ammunition's kept!
Wiktionary04
[…]so Fritz could sleep easily in his trench, so far as mines were concerned; and Fritz, confident in his Herr Professors, altogether neglected any attempt to counter-mine.
Wiktionary05
Generally, cooked deli products include Devon, Strasbourg sausage, Polish sausage, fritz, cabanossi or cabana, mortadella, and well-cooked roast beef (brown/grey in colour).
Wiktionary06
One clip, of Talking Heads playing “Born Under Punches” in Rome in 1980, is shot largely at groin level, amid sound equipment that is being manipulated for feedback squeals and other effects; it’s lik
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, fritz is marked as offensive, informal, UK. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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