fiddling while Rome burns

To occupy oneself with unimportant matters and neglect priorities during a crisis.

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).

duskins: "Just waiting for the time to be ideal!"
Zavah: "That time is never going to exist,why are you fiddling while Rome burns?"
duskins: . . . "oh f***." >_<

by duskins July 17, 2006

fiddle while rome burns

To enjoy minor unimportant things while ignoring the crisis happening right now

Trump dancing to Sinatra while people rioted was like Nero playing a fiddle while rome burns.

by DWBig January 21, 2017