fly-by-night
[ flahy-bahy-nahyt ]
/ ˈflaɪ baɪˌnaɪt /
adjective
not reliable or responsible, especially in business; untrustworthy: a fly-by-night operation.
not lasting; brief; impermanent; transitory: a fly-by-night theater.
noun Also fly-by-night·er.
a person or thing that is unreliable, especially a debtor who evades or attempts to evade creditors.
a person regarded as a poor credit risk.
Origin of fly-by-night
First recorded in 1790–1800
Words nearby fly-by-night
fly swatter,
fly the coop,
fly way,
fly, flying,
fly-by-light,
fly-by-night,
fly-by-wire,
fly-cast,
fly-drive,
fly-fish,
fly-fishing
Example sentences from the Web for fly-by-night
British Dictionary definitions for fly-by-night
fly-by-night
/ informal /
adjective
unreliable or untrustworthy, esp in finance
brief; impermanent
noun Also: fly-by-nighter
an untrustworthy person, esp one who departs secretly or by night to avoid paying debts
a person who goes out at night to places of entertainment
Cultural definitions for fly-by-night
fly-by-night
Shady or untrustworthy: “Before buying stock in a newly formed company, the prudent investor will check its owners' credentials to make sure it's not a fly-by-night operation.”