it went fritz

[wbadenhop]

Where does the expression

"it went on the fritz"

come from? Is it English or American?

 

[susiedq]

When something goes "on the fritz," it means it isn't working.

Let's watch TV.
Sorry, it's on the fritz.

The origin is unknown, but it is understood by most Americans.

 

[konungursvia]

I thought it was WWII AmE based on incorrect German, comparable to FLAK, Kraut, Geesha, etc.

 

[susiedq]

The term was used as far back as 1902, so that time frame does not fit.