Rome (redirected from when in Rome do as the Romans do)

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. Environmentalists claim that the government is fiddling while Rome burns.

See also: fiddle

Rome wasn't built in a day.

something that you say which means that it takes a long time to do an important job. 'Sometimes it feels like we've spent all our lives decorating this house.' 'Well, Rome wasn't built in a day.'

See also: built, day, wasn't

When in Rome (do as the Romans do).

something that you say which means when you are visiting another country, you should behave like the people in that country. I don't drink wine when I'm at home but on holiday, well, when in Rome...