English Dictionary

FLY-BY-NIGHT

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fly-by-night mean? 

FLY-BY-NIGHT (noun)
  The noun FLY-BY-NIGHT has 1 sense:

1. a debtor who flees to avoid payingplay

  Familiarity information: FLY-BY-NIGHT used as a noun is very rare.


FLY-BY-NIGHT (adjective)
  The adjective FLY-BY-NIGHT has 2 senses:

1. (of businesses and businessmen) untrustworthy or undependableplay

2. ephemeralplay

  Familiarity information: FLY-BY-NIGHT used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


FLY-BY-NIGHT (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A debtor who flees to avoid paying

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("fly-by-night" is a kind of...):

debitor; debtor (a person who owes a creditor; someone who has the obligation of paying a debt)

Derivation:

fly-by-night (ephemeral)

fly-by-night ((of businesses and businessmen) untrustworthy or undependable)


FLY-BY-NIGHT (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

(of businesses and businessmen) untrustworthy or undependable

Context example:

a fly-by-night operation

Similar:

untrustworthy; untrusty (not worthy of trust or belief)

Derivation:

fly-by-night (a debtor who flees to avoid paying)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Ephemeral

Context example:

the symphony is no fly-by-night venture

Similar:

impermanent; temporary (not permanent; not lasting)

Derivation:

fly-by-night (a debtor who flees to avoid paying)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"If you keep your mouth shut, you won't put your foot in it." (English proverb)

"A fire should be extinguished when it is small; an enemy should be subdued while young." (Bhutanese proverb)

"Meeting death is better than trying to ignore it." (Arabic proverb)

"A thin cat and a fat woman are the shame of a household." (Corsican proverb)



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