fritz
verb phrase
to become inoperable.
fritz
1 American
[frits]
/ frɪts /
verb phrase
idioms
Fritz
2
American
[frits]
/ frɪts /
noun
-
Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a German, especially a German soldier.
-
a male given name.
fritz
More Idioms
Sensitive Note
Fritz was a nickname used by Allied soldiers for a German soldier during World War I and II.
Etymology
Origin of fritz1
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; of obscure origin
Origin of Fritz2
1910–15; < German; common nickname for Friedrich
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But when Pína and Hawk arrive, their presence throws a wrench in a union that’s already on the fritz.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
But collectively, they show a country and a world order that are on the fritz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Don’t miss, for instance, a food replicator on the fritz, where holographic tea will consistently fail to properly materialize.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025
But like every machine I've ever owned, it goes on the fritz.
From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2023
“I’m so sorry. We have an elevator in the back, but it went on the fritz this afternoon. The technician is coming to fix it first thing in the morning.”
From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper
Australia's Alex de Minaur, along with American pair Taylor Fritz and Learner Tien, were also earmarked to play.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
"Vaccine hesitancy should not simply be understood as a lack of scientific knowledge among the public," Daniel Fritz Silvallana, a health communication researcher at Deakin University, Australia, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
He converted his third match point when Fritz failed to retrieve another delicate drop shot over the net.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Ms. Fritz dismisses speculation that the two fell into each other’s arms on this sunny, romantic-sounding holiday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Fritz had to have some rest before he’d be worth a grain of salt tomorrow.
From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
