Roman holiday

American

noun

a public spectacle or controversy marked by barbarism, vindictiveness, or scandal.
pleasure or advantage gained from the discomfort or suffering of others.

Roman holiday British

noun

entertainment or pleasure that depends on the suffering of others

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Roman holiday

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the past, Italy away was something of a Roman holiday for England in the Six Nations.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

The proportion of crisp-soft rice to stretchy cheese is ideal, and, like the puntarelle, a Roman holiday.

From Washington Post • Feb. 3, 2023

Kim Kardashian is making a number of sartorial statements during her Roman holiday.

From Fox News • Jul. 1, 2021

Herrmann called composing his 1941 Symphony a "Roman holiday."

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2016

They were bound to make a Roman holiday out of us whether we wanted to or not.

From Man Size by Raine, William MacLeod

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023