on the blink

English

Etymology

Presumably from an appliance with poor electrical connection blinking from intermittent connection.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Prepositional phrase

on the blink

1. (UK, Australia, informal) functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well. Usually refers to a mechanical or electrical device.

   My toaster is on the blink, making either charcoal or cold bread.

   • 1968, “I'm So Tired”, in John Lennon (lyrics), The Beatles, performed by the Beatles:

     I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink / I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink

Synonyms

• (malfunctioning): on the fritz

Translations

to be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order

• German: kaputt sein, im Eimer sein, am Ende sein, im Arsch sein (vulgar), hinüber sein
• Polish: niedysponowany
• Portuguese: dar o berro (Portugal), ir-se (in the past tense)

References

• “on the blink” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “on the blink”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.