Dictionary

fair-weather fan en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From fair-weather + fan, drawing an analogy between good weather and trouble-free times.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) A fan who only pays attention to their favorite team when they are performing well.
   • But, hey, don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those big-mouth, fair-weather fans who sings "Hail to the Redskins" when they're winning and "To Hell With the Redskins" when they're not. 2001 October 19, Don Oldenburg, “We’ll Always Have Riggins: Tips for the Suffering Redskins Fan”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 01 Jul 2025:
   • This last point speaks to a certain ignobility in bandwagon fandom, no doubt. But this is counterbalanced by the fact that fair-weather fans provide a necessary reserve of energy precisely when it’s needed most. 2015 October 16, David Sax, “Confessions of a Bandwagon Fan”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2020:
   • We certainly have our share of loyal fans, but an even greater share of fair-weather fans. We’re a busy city, and this may be part of the reason for the apathy. But Boston and New York are pretty busy, too, and while I’m sure they have their fair-weather fans, they also have some of the oldest and most storied sports franchises in America and their fan bases are among the most loyal in the country. 2011 January 14, Paul Johnson, “Falcons Have an Identity. It’s Called Winning.”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 01 Jul 2025:

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