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Region: General | Usage example: Avoid fly-by-night vendors.

Fly-by-night

Meaning

Unreliable, operating only briefly and often dishonestly.

Usage

Warns against temporary, shady businesses.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

People who vanish overnight, like birds of passage.

Earliest recorded in the 18th century.

Related Idioms

Air your laundry

Publicly discuss private matters, often causing embarrassment.

Cut corners

To save time, money, or effort by skipping proper steps, often reducing quality or safety.

Jump-start

Quickly kick off something, often a stalled effort.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.