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• fritz
  fritz

  verb phrase

  to become inoperable.
• Fritz
  Fritz

  noun

  a German, especially a German soldier.

fritz

¹ American  

[frits] / frɪts /

verb phrase

1. fritz out to become inoperable.

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idioms

1. on the fritz, not in working order.

   Our TV went on the fritz last night.

Fritz ² American  

[frits] / frɪts /

noun

1. Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a German, especially a German soldier.

2. a male given name.

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fritz More Idioms  

1. see on the blink (fritz).

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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

See Examples For:

fritz Fritz

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

And if his regulator was perhaps on the fritz and not delivering oxygen to his mask, that would also explain Andy’s apparent lack of lucidity.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Sixth-ranked Daniil Medvedev, seventh seed Taylor Fritz and world number nine Flavio Cobolli also all lost in the second round.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

After seizing control in the first-set tiebreaker, Fritz roared to a 3-0 lead with a pair of service breaks in the second.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

Fritz, who was playing his third final of the season, collapsed to the court when it was done before rising to salute the crowd.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

The big-hitting 29-year-old, now free from his tag as arguably the best men's player never to win a Grand Slam, produced a dominant display to defeat American Taylor Fritz and reach his first Wimbledon semi-final.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

It appears that at least 90 percent of the universe, and perhaps as much as 99 percent, is composed of Fritz Zwicky’s "dark matter"–stuff that is by its nature invisible to us.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson