burns

fiddle while Rome burns

Fig. to do nothing or something trivial while knowing that something disastrous is happening. (From a legend that the Roman emperor Nero played the lyre while Rome was burning.) The lobbyists don't seem to be doing anything to stop this tax bill. They're fiddling while Rome burns.

See also: fiddle, Rome

Money burns a hole in someone's pocket.

An expression decribing someone who spends money as soon as it is earned. Sally can't seem to save anything. Money burns a hole in her pocket. If money burns a hole in your pocket, you never have any for emergencies.

See also: hole, money, pocket

that (really) burns me (up)

Inf. That makes me very angry! Bob: Did you hear that interest rates are going back up? Mary: That really burns me up! Sue: Fred is telling everyone that you are the one who lost the party money. Mary: That burns me! It was John who had the money in the first place.

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fiddle while Rome burns

to spend time enjoying yourself or doing things that are not important when you should be dealing with a serious problem

Usage notes: This phrase comes from a story about the Roman emperor Nero, who fiddled (= played the violin) while the city of Rome was burning.

Environmentalists claim that the government is fiddling while Rome burns.

See also: fiddle, Rome