fritz
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- //fɹɪts//
The state of being defective.
noun
- 1
informalThe state of being defective.
- 2
A type of processed meat sausage; devon
Generally, cooked deli products include Devon, Strasbourg sausage, Polish sausage, fritz, cabanossi or cabana, mortadella, and well-cooked roast beef (brown/grey in colour).
Etymology
Unknown. See on the fritz, which appeared in 1902. Possibly from German name Fritz, or onomatopoeia.
verb
- 1
To go wrong or become defective.
One clip, of Talking Heads playing “Born Under Punches” in Rome in 1980, is shot largely at groin level, amid sound equipment that is being manipulated for feedback squeals and other effects; it’s like being close to the crooked spine and fritzed nervous system of a body that’s simultaneously pushing its sex appeal.
My brain was fritzing like an elderly TV set about to die. I hit the side of my head with the heel of my hand. Percussive maintenance. It didn't work.
Forms
- past tense
- fritzed
- past participle
- fritzed
- present participle
- fritzing
- third person singular
- fritzes