Word.ws English Dictionary

on the blink

on the blink prepositional phrase: usually of a mechanical or electrical device, functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well.

Prepositional phrase

  1. (Australia, UK, informal) Usually 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.
    • I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink / I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink1968, “I'm So Tired”, in John Lennon (lyrics), The Beatles, performed by the Beatles
    Synonyms:
    on the fritz

Synonyms of on the blink

Origin of on the blink

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

Questions about on the blink

What does on the blink mean?
On the blink means usually of a mechanical or electrical device, functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well.
What part of speech is on the blink?
On the blink is a prepositional phrase.

Words near on the blink in the dictionary

  1. on the beach
  2. on the beat
  3. on the bench
  4. on the bias
  5. on the blanket
  6. on the blink
  7. on the blob
  8. on the block
  9. on the boil
  10. on the boob
  11. on the book

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: on the blink (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-au-on the blink.ogg.

Cite this entry: “on the blink.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/on_the_blink. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.