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\ ˈfrits 
\
\Definition of fritz
: a state of disorder or disrepair
—used in the phrase on the fritzOne day the Internet connection at the house goes on the fritz [=stops working properly], so I go with the laptop to a cafe and ask if it has wireless.— Joel Achenbach
Examples of fritz in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Dealers pitch warranties using the worst-case scenario: The electronic system goes on the fritz and the bill will be three grand.
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cleveland, "Extended car warranties: When and how to say no," 21 Mar. 2020 Nearly 100 residents of an apartment building were displaced after the air conditioning went on the fritz in the extreme heat on Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.
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Rosemary Sobol, chicagotribune.com, "1 hurt, nearly 100 with special needs forced to evacuate after air conditioning goes out in Old Town apartment building," 20 July 2019 Lee's confusion causes the simulation to fritz, and we're treated to a neat aspect ratio shift as the world grows letterbox bars.
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Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, "Westworld S3, episode 2: Back in the game, breaking parks again," 22 Mar. 2020 With her tires balding and her transmission on the fritz, Katrina Whitaker needed a new car.
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Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, "A hotel worker thought she was buying a $1,400 vehicle. Instead, she was taken for a ride," 14 Feb. 2020 Police closed their investigation when the trail went cold, speculating that a loud attic fan or water pump on the fritz might have been to blame for the disappearing screech.
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Erin Blakemore, Popular Science, "Seven mysterious sounds science has yet to solve," 27 Jan. 2020 There’s a decent chance Gilmore adds to his interception collection Sunday if Jackson, whose accuracy still can go on the fritz, makes the mistake of targeting a Ravens receiver in his vicinity.
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BostonGlobe.com, "Patriots have barely had a quiz, let alone a test like the Ravens - The Boston Globe," 2 Nov. 2019 Honig says airline staff are increasingly empowered to offer flyers transfers to new flights if the Wi-Fi is on the fritz.
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David Z. Morris, Fortune, "How to Make Sure Your In-Flight Wi-Fi Isn’t Terrible," 13 Dec. 2019 There were a host of challenges like ensuring your remote was pointed at the box at the right angle, or pressing the reset button when service was on the fritz.
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Kim Komando, USA TODAY, "10 things you don’t need around the house anymore because of tech," 2 Dec. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fritz.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for fritz
The first known use of fritz was in 1902
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