fiddle while Rome burns

1. To do something trivial and irresponsible in the midst of an emergency; legend has it that while a fire destroyed the city of Rome, the emperor Nero played his violin, thus revealing his total lack of concern for his people and his empire.

Idioms and Phrases

Occupy oneself with unimportant matters and neglect important ones during a crisis. For example, The account was falling through, but he was more worried about missing his golf game—talk about fiddling while Rome burns! This expression alludes to the legend that the Emperor Nero played his fiddle while watching the conflagration of Rome. [Mid-1600s]

Example Sentences

Because sometimes it's nice not to have to fiddle while Rome burns.

From Washington Post

To take note of Trump’s arrested language development, while the world wonders how safe it will be so long as he is president, is not to fiddle while Rome burns.

From The Guardian

They are both children playing the veritable fiddle while Rome burns, able to throw tantrums disguised as intellectualisms while the adults attempt to put the fires out.

From US News

“We’re a bit like Nero, playing the fiddle while Rome burns,” he said.

From New York Times

All the zoological Neros should not fiddle while Rome burns.

From Project Gutenberg