on the fritz
Not working properly
On the fritz describes something malfunctioning or broken, typically machinery or electronics: The coffee maker's on the fritz again, My computer went on the fritz right before the deadline.
The phrase is American, dating to the early twentieth century.
Origin unknown.
Apprehended or broken
blown · toast · done for · out of commission · wrecked · ruined · destroyed · totaled
Not functioning properly
- nonfunctionalNot performing its purpose
- downToward lower ground
- offlineNot internet-connected
- disabledMade unable to function
unusable · inactive · not working · out of service · unresponsive · dead in the water
Showing intermittent digital faults
- buggyHorse-drawn cart
- acting upBehaving badly or failing
- sputteringParticle ejection from surfaces
- flickeringShining unsteadily, intermittently
freezing · crashing · stalling · jamming · short-circuiting · overheating · misfiring · cutting out
Easily upset, unpredictable
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
- glitchyProne to malfunctions
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
flaky · inconsistent · hit-or-miss · spotty · iffy · dicey · touchy · fickle
busted
Apprehended or broken
fried · blown · toast · done for · out of commission · wrecked · ruined · destroyed · totaled · finished
out of order
Not functioning properly
- nonfunctionalNot performing its purpose
- downToward lower ground
- offlineNot internet-connected
disabled · unusable · inactive · not working · out of service · unresponsive · dead in the water
glitching
Showing intermittent digital faults
- buggyHorse-drawn cart
- acting upBehaving badly or failing
- sputteringParticle ejection from surfaces
flickering · freezing · crashing · stalling · jamming · short-circuiting · overheating · misfiring · cutting out · hiccuping
temperamental
Easily upset, unpredictable
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
- glitchyProne to malfunctions
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
unpredictable · flaky · inconsistent · hit-or-miss · spotty · iffy · dicey · touchy · fickle · quirky
- broken-downbroken-down, busted, kaput, out of order, inoperative
- malfunction termsbroke, crashed, failed, froze, glitched
- malfunctionsbroken, defective, glitch, faulty, error
- nonfunctionalbroken, malfunctioning, inoperative, out of order, nonfunctional
- brokenbroken, busted, broken down, out of order, not working
on the fritzworking
In active function
functioning · operational · in working order · up and running · functional