fiddle while Rome burns
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFrom the ancient rumour that the Roman emperor Nero played a lyre whilst the city of Rome was burning.
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
editfiddle while Rome burns (third-person singular simple present fiddles while Rome burns, present participle fiddling while Rome burns, simple past and past participle fiddled while Rome burned or fiddled while Rome burnt)
- (idiomatic) To neglect helping when one’s time is needed most; to ignore the major problem at hand (whilst doing something less important); to be idle, inactive, or uninterested in a time of great need.
Synonyms
editTranslations
editto ignore the major problem
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See also
editFurther reading
edit- “fiddle while Rome burns”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.