- Meaning
- This idiom describes something, typically a machine or device, that is malfunctioning, unreliable, or not working properly, as if it is intermittently ‘blinking’ or failing. It conveys a state of partial or complete breakdown, often used in technical, domestic, or casual contexts to highlight equipment issues, though it can extend to people or systems acting erratically. The phrase carries a tone of frustration, mild annoyance, or resignation, reflecting cultural reliance on technology and the human irritation with its failures. It resonates in settings where mechanical reliability is expected, capturing the inconvenience of faulty tools or systems, and its quirky imagery adds a layer of colloquial charm, evoking a flickering or faltering state. The idiom often implies a need for repair or replacement, making it a practical expression for everyday technological woes.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in early 20th-century Britain or America, rooted in the advent of electrical devices, where ‘blink’ described flickering lights or intermittent mechanical function, possibly tied to telegraphy or early electronics. An early use appears in a 1911 *London Times* article, describing a faulty motor as ‘on the blink.’ The idiom gained traction in the 1920s, reflecting the rise of consumer appliances and cars, as seen in Sinclair Lewis’ *Main Street* (1920), which captures small-town life’s technological struggles. Its use grew in mid-20th-century American English, particularly during the post-World War II boom in household gadgets, and was popularized through radio and TV repair culture, as noted in 1950s advertisements. The phrase’s adoption in British and Commonwealth English was reinforced through American media, and its spread was fueled by its vivid imagery, evoking a device’s faltering pulse, and its applicability to mechanical failure, ensuring its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from garages to tech support calls.
- Variants
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- On the blink
- Gone on the blink
- On the fritz
- Acting on the blink
- Examples
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- The printer’s on the blink again, spitting out blank pages.
- Gone on the blink, my old laptop keeps crashing every hour.
- The air conditioner’s on the fritz, making weird noises.
- Acting on the blink, the car’s engine sputtered all the way home.
- Our TV’s on the blink, flickering during the big game.
- On the blink, the office Wi-Fi slowed down the whole team.
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