go on the fritz
slang Of a machine, to begin malfunctioning. Primarily heard in US. Our washer has gone on the fritz, so I'm on my way to the laundromat. Mom called the repairman because our TV went on the fritz again.
go (or be) on the fritz
(of a machine) stop working properly. North American informal The nature of any connection with Fritz , the derogatory nickname for a German, is uncertain. The related phrase put the fritz on means ‘put a stop to something’.