Tom wants to know who Fritz is and why he's blamed when something is broken and "goes on the fritz."

Here are several theories about the expression, which originated in the U.S. in 1903, but there's something wrong with each of them:

* It comes from the derogatory nickname for a World War I German soldier, signifying the defeated and ruined country. The Word Detective (word-detective.com) doubts this, saying the expression predates the war, though the Henry Holt Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins says the nickname Fritz originated much earlier, with Frederick the Great of Prussia in the 18th century.

* It comes from Hans and Fritz, the mischievous Katzenjammer Kids of the early comic strip, which started in 1897. But World Wide Words (worldwidewords.org) says there's no real evidence and wonders why, if that's the source, we don't say "on the hans."

* It comes from the sound made by an electrical device shorting out. World Wide Words disagrees, saying that none of the early uses of the expression is connected with an electrical device and that it originated before the widespread use of electricity.

* The Online Etymology Dictionary (etym online.com) says earliest references suggest a theatrical origin but offers no specifics.

So, take your pick.

In the meantime, try this one:

When photographers talk about chimping, what do they mean? - Sue

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