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fly-by-night

Meaning: Undependable; untrustworthy.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Animals

Origin: The expression suggests the idea that the operation closes up and flees under the cover of darkness rather than in the clear light of day.

More idioms — Animals

  • fly in the face of something — To go against something; to show disrespect for something or someone.
  • fly in the ointment — An unpleasant element in an otherwise pleasant situation.
  • fly off the handle — To suddenly become very angry.
  • fly the coop — To escape.
  • get off one's high horse — To stop acting superior.
  • get someone's goat — To irritate or annoy someone.

More English idioms

  • go whole hog — To spare nothing; to do something with maximum enthusiasm.
  • grin and bear it — To accept or endure a bad situation.
  • horse around — To play a little roughly.
  • horse of another color — A situation or plan which represents a change from what was expected or assumed.
  • horse sense — Common sense (sentence 1) or shrewdness; cleverness (sentence 2).
  • lame duck — A person who holds an office but has little real influence because he or she has not been…

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