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Mar 11, 1994 · Etymology of “on the fritz”: the usual baloney. By Cecil Adams. Mar 10, 1994, 10:00pm PDT. Dear Cecil: What is the derivation of the idiom “on the fritz” for something that is not working? Stephen Alpert, Los Angeles. Cecil replies: If I had an honest atom in my body, I would say “I don’t know” and shut up.
Wiktionary puts its origin date as 1902, and it’s meaning either as a reference to the German name Fritz, so it could be some sort of insult, or as an onomatopoeia for a fuse blowing. Another origin is the name of a troublesome kid in a comic strip that was popular at the time.
The Origins of “On The Fritz”. The exact origin of this idiom is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in America in the early 20th century. Some speculate that it may have been derived from German immigrants who used a similar phrase “auf der Fritz” which means “in a state of disorder”.
Sep 10, 2001 · ON THE FRITZ -- Out of order; broken. Fritz is the German nickname for Friedrich and, during World War I it came to stand for Germans in general. Considering America's distaste for Germany at that time, the expression may have sprung from the notion that if there was wrongdoing, the Germans must have had a hand in it.
The phrase on the fritz dates to the beginning of the 20th century--a time, perhaps, when electric appliances were becoming more common (and consequently break down) in American homes. However, nobody knows the exact origin of the term.
Aug 11, 2001 · The phrase is now a common American expression meaning that some mechanism is malfunctioning or broken: “The washing machine’s on the fritz again” (the British and Australian equivalent would be on the blink). However, when it first appeared — about 1902 — it meant that something was in a bad way or bad condition.
Mar 18, 2018 · The understanding of “friz” as “frozen” may be supported by the 1940s product “Kraft FRIZZ,” which was a frozen-dessert mix: http://www.answers.com/Q/FAQ/2856. Note also “It snow, then it friz” in a diary kept during 1846-1849: http://www.wyandotte-nation.org/culture/history/published/provisional-government/journal1/.
