Meanings
- AustraliaUKinformalUsually of a mechanical or electrical device, functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well.
My toaster is on the blink, making either charcoal or cold bread.
1 more example
I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink / I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
1968, “I'm So Tired”, in John Lennon (lyrics), The Beatles, performed by the BeatlesSynonyms: on the fritz
Synonyms & antonyms
prepositional phraseUsually of a mechanical or electrical device, functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well.
Origin
Presumably from an appliance with poor electrical connection blinking from intermittent connection.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
German kaputt sein, im Eimer sein
- kaputt seinto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
- im Eimer seinto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
- am Ende seinto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
- im Arsch seinto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
- hinüber seinto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
Polish niedysponowany, zepsuty
- niedysponowanyto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
- zepsutyto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
Portuguese dar o berro, ir-se
- dar o berroto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
- ir-seto be malfunctioning (device), the state of being out of order
Cite this entry
on the blink. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20blink
“on the blink.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20blink. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on the blink,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20blink.
Source: on the blink on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.