noun
Fritz
frihts
noun
1
Informal: a broken or malfunctioning state, almost always used in the phrase "on the fritz".
"The TV has been on the fritz all week."
verb
1
Informal: to stop working properly; to malfunction.
"My laptop fritzed out in the middle of the presentation."
How to Use Fritz
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed informally for something that has stopped working properly.
When to use it
Casual, American English.
Common pairings
on the fritz
fritz out
Word Forms
fritzed past tense, Fritzes plural, Fritzes plural, fritzes singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Fritz”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The TV has been on the _____ all week.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, though it may be linked to "Fritz", a nickname once used for German soldiers; the exact connection to the "malfunction" sense is debated.