• According to a well-known metaphor, Nero — Rome’s unpopular emperor at that time, “Fiddled while Rome Burned.”
  • If someone fiddles while Rome burns, they do nothing or spend their time on unimportant things when they have very serious issues or problems to deal with.
  • Example Sentences. Vacuuming the carpet while her co-worker was in with the boss, trying to steal her job, felt like fiddling while Rome burned.
  • Those who fiddle while Rome burns may find themselves constantly putting out fires and failing to address the underlying issues that contribute to the crisis.
  • The source of this phrase is the supposed story that Nero played the fiddle (violin) while Rome burned, during the great fire in AD 64.
  • The idiom “fiddle while Rome burns” is a well-known expression that conveys a sense of indifference or apathy towards an impending disaster.
  • Origin: (The source of this phrase is the story that Nero played the fiddle (violin) while Rome Burned during the Great Fire in AD 64).
  • Overall, the term "Fiddle While Rome Burns" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of staying focused and engaged during times of crisis.
  • Nero fiddles You know that legend about Nero fiddling while around him Rome was burning? It’s a popular metaphor for political cluelessness, for inaction...
  • fiddle while Rome burns definition: 1. to enjoy yourself or continue working as normal and not give any attention to something….