fiddle while Rome burns
verbEtymology From the ancient rumour that the Roman emperor Nero played a lyre during the Great Fire of Rome (AD 64).
1
Idiomatic To neglect helping when one’s time is needed most; to ignore the major problem at hand (whilst doing something less important); to be idle, inactive, or uninterested in a time of great need.
- Synonyms
- sit on one's hands, sit on one's thumbs