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- DictionaryFly-by-night/ˈflībīˌnīt/
adjective
- 1. unreliable or untrustworthy, especially in business or financial matters: "cheap suits made by fly-by-night operators"
noun
- 1. an unreliable or untrustworthy person.
The meaning of FLY-BY-NIGHT is one that seeks to evade responsibilities and especially creditors by flight. How to use fly-by-night in a sentence.
A ‘fly-by-night’ is someone who attempts to evade responsibilities or debts by absconding under cover of darkness. Typically, this may be covertly moving out pf a property to avoid paying the rent. More generally, ‘fly-by-night’ is applied to any person or business of a poor ‘here today; gone tomorrow’ reputation.
FLY-BY-NIGHT definition: 1. Fly-by-night companies or business people cannot be trusted because they are likely to get into…. Learn more.
fly-by-night. Fig. irresponsible; untrustworthy. (Alludes to a person who sneaks away secretly in the night.) The carpenter we hired was a fly-by-night worker who did a very bad job. You shouldn't deal with a fly-by-night merchant.
Fly-by-night definition: not reliable or responsible, especially in business; untrustworthy. See examples of FLY-BY-NIGHT used in a sentence.
The phrase “fly-by-night” is a common idiom used in English to describe someone or something that is unreliable, untrustworthy, or fleeting. The origins of this expression can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was first used to describe nocturnal insects that were difficult to catch due to their quick movements.
Fly-by-night definition: Unreliable or unscrupulous, especially with regard to business dealings.
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘fly-by-night'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
4 meanings: 1. unreliable or untrustworthy, esp in finance 2. brief; impermanent also: fly-by-nighter 3. an untrustworthy.... Click for more definitions.
Definition of fly-by-night adjective in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
