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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

With that process continuing, hill protector Catherine Fritz, 69, strolled past the homes last month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

"I don't know if I want to start throwing around the 'b-word'," American world number eight Taylor Fritz said.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

To investigate this, researchers from the Department of Molecular Physics at the Fritz Haber Institute, along with collaborators from Leipzig and the United States, focused on a key molecular structure involved in this process.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

Assuming that’s the case, Neil Carbone, a trusts and estates partner at the law firm Farrell Fritz, P.C., believes that would be feasible.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The term supernova was coined in the 1930s by a memorably odd astrophysicist named Fritz Zwicky.

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