| English Dictionary |
FLY-BY-NIGHT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| 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 paying
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 undependable
2. ephemeral
Familiarity information: FLY-BY-NIGHT used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
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)
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)
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