# Fritz equal šŸ’© what's the origin of that slang? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002 "2021-10-22T15:40:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/1 "2021-10-22T15:40:03Z")
Iā€™ve heard people say ā€œtook a fritzā€ instead of crap. Fritz sounds less offensive. I usually hear it used when people are talking about their dog. Whatā€™s the slang origin? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/2 "2021-10-22T15:51:26Z")
Are you sure that this is accurate? I can WAG as to the etymology of such a thing (German scatological pornography is a common meme) but in trying to look up the slang Iā€™m not really finding anything about its existence, let alone origin. ā€œFritzā€ is an old term for ā€œGerman personā€ going back many decades, and is often considered derogatory, but I havenā€™t seen it used as slang for defecation. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/3 "2021-10-22T15:53:00Z")
My naive guess would be that it sounds vaguely like ā€œshitā€. Iā€™ve never heard it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/4 "2021-10-22T15:59:07Z")
Also used to mean something going haywire. Like my icemaker is on the fritz, but the fridge is fine. In this case I think it simply rhymes with shits. Never heard it used in this manner, but why not. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/5 "2021-10-22T16:05:11Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Like my icemaker is on the fritz, but the fridge is fine Oh I still use it that way, though I never made the connection between the term and the German given name. I hope itā€™s not a slur, I had never thought of that. Hmm. > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > In this case I think it simply rhymes with shits. Thatā€™s common with English Cockney, where a rhyme is substituted for the original word or phrase, so that would make sense. But again I donā€™t think itā€™s common usage so the OPā€™s question is somewhat invalid. (At least as far as I can tell, I might be wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/6 "2021-10-22T16:06:26Z")
I didnā€™t realize it sort of rhymes with shits. I guess the guy on youtube was trying to say his dog, did his business, more nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/7 "2021-10-22T16:13:20Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Oh I still use it that way, though I never made the connection between the term and the German given name. I hope itā€™s not a slur, I had never thought of that. Hmm. I assume ā€˜fritzā€™ is used because it sounds like an electrical problem (arcing, for example). ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/8 "2021-10-22T16:30:30Z")
It has to be from WWII just like Tojo was used. There are various patriotic posters that use Fritz to indicate the German enemy. > **[r/PropagandaPosters - \[American World War 2 poster, possibly modern day?\]"Hit...](https://www.reddit.com/r/PropagandaPosters/comments/1nm3qe/american_world_war_2_poster_possibly_modern/)** > > 25 votes and 7 comments so far on Reddit > **[World War two American anti-Japanese, propaganda poster](https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/world-war-two-american-anti-japanese-propaganda-poster-thank-you-so-much-american-soldier-for-wasting-food-help-tojo-win-war/POH-ARP17A13_237)** > > Download and buy this stock image: World War two American anti-Japanese, propaganda poster - POH-ARP17A13\_237 from agefotostock's photo library of over 110+ million high resolution stock photos, stock pictures, videos and stock vectors ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/9 "2021-10-22T16:30:39Z")
Skip to 4:34 he says you gonna push out a fritz. It may just be slang he uses. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vl0kZMXQOOc/hqdefault.jpg "day in the life of a real working dog") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl0kZMXQOOc) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/10 "2021-10-22T16:31:37Z")
While this doesnā€™t appear to be an in-depth etymological evaluation, this article does talk about the uncertainty of the origin of using ā€œfritzā€ as a synonym for ā€œmalfunctionā€: > **[Chrysti the Wordsmith: Broken, malfunctioning things are 'on the Fritz' or...](https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/local-events/chrysti/chrysti-the-wordsmith-broken-malfunctioning-things-are-on-the-fritz-or-on-the-blink/article_caa559fd-0b52-58bf-9486-13308b110209.html)** > > When something is broken or malfunctioning and in need of repair, we often say itā€™s ā€œon the Fritzā€ ā€” or ā€œon the blink,ā€ another slangy expression that works just as For what itā€™s worth, [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/on_the_fritz) suggests that it could be related to the German given name or onomatopoeia as you propose. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/11 "2021-10-22T16:32:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I guess the guy on youtube was trying to say his dog, did his business, more nicely. So your source for it being slang is that a guy said it one time on YouTube. That tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/12 "2021-10-22T16:35:10Z")
Given its similarity to ā€˜on the blinkā€™, Iā€™ll believe the latter. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/13 "2021-10-22T16:39:20Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > So your source for it being slang is that a guy said it one time on YouTube. That tracks I grew up in the same area of Massachusetts. Steve lives and works around Dartmouth, MA. I really enjoy this guyā€™s accent and slang because it reminds me of my childhood. Steve also says let err rip potato chip when his dog is pooping. Heā€™s a colorful guy. I watch his plumbing channel regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/14 "2021-10-22T18:02:26Z")
The first post you made in opening this thread implied youā€™d heard this from more than one person rather than one guy once, in a YouTube video. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/15 "2021-10-22T18:10:37Z")
Iā€™ve heard Steve use it pretty often when his dog takes a dump. The dog rides in his work van and sometimes he letā€™s it out for a potty break. Fritz sparked a memory for me. I canā€™t say for sure if I heard it before. I may have since I spent my early childhood near where Steve lives. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/16 "2021-10-22T18:12:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Iā€™ve heard Steve use it pretty often when his dog takes a dump. Have you ever heard anyone _other than that one guy_ use ā€œfritzā€ in this way? Or, does ā€œI canā€™t say for sure if I heard it beforeā€ answer that question? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/17 "2021-10-22T18:15:57Z")
I canā€™t remember any other person using fritz. It sounded familiar and may be a regional expression. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/18 "2021-10-22T18:22:12Z")
In the OP you clearly stated that youā€™ve heard ā€œpeopleā€ (plural) say this, and qualified it with a ā€œusuallyā€ seemingly to indicate multiple experiences of this being used as some sort of common slang. Thatā€™s different than one guy in an internet video using his own idiosyncratic language. Lots of people make up their own euphemisms. Why not ask the question, then, whether this is a widespread euphemism rather than assume and act like it is? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/19 "2021-10-22T18:25:31Z")
I should have phrased the question more carefully. It sounds so familiar and natural an expression. That may just be my memories from childhood. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002/20 "2021-10-23T09:29:02Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Thatā€™s common with English Cockney Not quite. The point about rhyming slang is that it uses a phrase, of which you _donā€™t_ say the word that rhymes. You may sometimes hear ā€œThatā€™s a load of old ponyā€[_understood to include_ ā€œand trapā€= guess what]. But I donā€™t think thatā€™s used to refer to the actual bodily function. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-equal-whats-the-origin-of-that-slang/953002.md?page=2)