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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.
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”.
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.
Mar 18, 2018 · Though it's generally agreed that "on the fritz" means, more or less, "in an unsatisfactory or defective state or condition" (Oxford English Dictionary), there is no agreement on its etymology.
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.
Jul 17, 2023 · Origin. What's the origin of On the Fritz? The exact origin of the phrase “On the Fritz” is somewhat uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the late 19th or early 20th century. There are two different etymologies for the expression.
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.
