fly-by-night
Here today, gone
Fly-by-night describes a business or person that operates briefly, often irresponsibly, then disappears—typically to avoid debts or accountability.
The term suggests unreliability and shadiness: a fly-by-night contractor who vanished with our deposit, some fly-by-night operation selling counterfeit goods.
As a noun, a fly-by-night is such a person or enterprise.
The image is of someone who slips away under cover of darkness.
Of uncertain reliability
- untrustworthyNot deserving of confidence
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
- dishonestInclined to deceive
underhanded · shifty · corrupt · nefarious · illicit · suspicious · swindler · charlatan
Limited in duration
- short-livedLasting only briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- briefShort in duration
passing · momentary · impermanent · transitory · vanishing · fading · unstable · volatile
Homeless wanderer by choice
- drifterAimless, rootless traveler
- wandererRootless, roving person
- vagabondHomeless, aimless wanderer
- transientTemporary, soon departing
migrant · rootless · footloose · peripatetic · unsettled · floating · mobile · restless
Bathed in lunar glow
- midnightTwelve o'clock at night
- after-hoursBeyond regular closing
- twilightLight after sunset
- darknessTotal absence of light
shadowy · covert · clandestine · secretive · stealthy
dubious
Of uncertain reliability
- untrustworthyNot deserving of confidence
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
dishonest · underhanded · shifty · corrupt · nefarious · illicit · suspicious · swindler · charlatan · phony
temporary
Limited in duration
- short-livedLasting only briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
brief · passing · momentary · impermanent · transitory · vanishing · fading · unstable · volatile · disposable
nomad
Homeless wanderer by choice
transient · migrant · rootless · footloose · peripatetic · unsettled · floating · mobile · restless · roving
moonlit
Bathed in lunar glow
- midnightTwelve o'clock at night
- after-hoursBeyond regular closing
- twilightLight after sunset
darkness · shadowy · covert · clandestine · secretive · stealthy
fly-by-nightreliable
Consistently performing as expected
dependable · trustworthy · responsible · trusty · solid
fly-by-nightestablished
Formally set up
long-standing · permanent · enduring · lasting · venerable
fly-by-nightreputable
Having a good name
legitimate · bona fide · honest · above-board · credible
flight, night, flying, nightfall, nighttime, overnight, nightly, nightlife