197 Fly-by-night (PW) unreliable, untrustworthy I don’t want to buy my computer from that store. It’s a fly-by-night company; they may not be in business next year. (free) Informal, adj. 1. Unreliable or unscrupulous, especially with regard to business dealings: "fly-by-night telephone companies that open up shop, sell some systems, then disappear when service is needed" (Mary Ellen Jordan). 2. Of an impermanent or insubstantial nature: fly-by-night fashions in clothing. n. 1. An unscrupulous or undependable person, especially one who leaves secretly without paying creditors. 2. Something of a shaky or impermanent nature. 1. unreliable or untrustworthy, esp in finance 2. brief; impermanent n also fly-by-nighter 1. an untrustworthy person, esp one who departs secretly or by night to avoid paying debts 2. a person who goes out at night to places of entertainment (MW) Function: noun Date: 1822 1 : one that seeks to evade responsibilities and especially creditors by flight 2 : one without established reputation or standing; especially : a shaky business enterprise (your) adjective not trustworthy; esp., financially irresponsible noun a fly-by-night person; esp., a debtor who runs away to escape debts |