fair-weather

[fair-weth-er]

adjective

1. used in or intended for fair weather only.

2. weakening or failing in time of trouble.

   His fair-weather friends left him when he lost his money.

fair-weather

adjective

1. suitable for use in fair weather only

2. not reliable or present in situations of hardship or difficulty (esp in the phrase fair-weather friend )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fair-weather¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

Is F1 a fair-weather sport now?

From BBC

But Sunak gamely stuck it out, later commenting that he was "not a fair-weather politician" and confirming he'd be taking an umbrella on the campaign trail.

From BBC

“I don’t know if I’d call her a fair-weather fan, but she doesn’t live and die with the team as I have,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Rhee noted that such privileges have fed into less favorable views of Korean Americans as spoiled opportunists — fair-weather Koreans who had left the country when things were tough only to return now that the going is good.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, I get it: I love this show personally and cover it professionally, so I have a vested interest in it that sometimes goes beyond what more casual or fair-weather viewers might think of it.

From Salon

Related Words

• deceitful 
• dishonest 
• disloyal 
• false 
• irresponsible 
• treacherous 
• unreliable 
• unsafe