fair-weather

fair-weather

Only present, interested, or invested when things are going well, not during times of trouble or difficulty. I thought Allison and I had a strong friendship, but I learned she was just another fair-weather friend when she stopped talking to me after my divorce. I've been rooting for the home team in their playoff run, but I'll admit I'm just a fair-weather fan.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fair-weather

mod. temporary; insincere. (From fair-weather sailor.) I need something more than a fair-weather friend to help me through all this.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • fairweather
  • fair-weather friend
  • a fair-weather friend
  • heaping Pelion upon Ossa
  • half the trouble of (something)
  • save (one's) own skin
  • save skin
  • on red alert
  • be in hot water
  • get in(to) hot water
References in periodicals archive
Prime Minister Tony Blair is only a "fair-weather supporter" of Newcastle United, his Cabinet colleague Jack Straw said yesterday.
Almost every big label band is wimpy sissy stuff made for creeps that are here-to-day-gone-tomorrow, fair-weather friends.
But I am sure Gordon wasn't a fair-weather soldier.
SIR: In his letter (AR Nov 2003) Leslie Fair-weather questions the Model Prison (AR Oct 2003).
I am not one of those fair-weather friends who has only lately turned on him.
Or perhaps some of liberty's fair-weather friends are fickle pals of federalism as well.
No major storms or floods affected the area, hence year three data records fair-weather sediment distribution in Weeks Bay.
According to Handel's theory, once in the number of such small aggregates and the number of molecules in each group reach a certain limit within a cloud, a "polarization catastrophe" occurs in which all of the clusters spontaneously align--typically along the direction of a very weak fair-weather field between the earth and the ionosphere.
Paul Maloney, GMB national organiser, said: "The AA is now a fair-weather service, unable to cope with very hot, cold or changeable weather."
Maybe he now wants to get his priorities right and to spend time with his family and true friends - not the fair-weather bunch who would have made him a hero if England had won.