Meaning & use
When in Rome
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Meanings
phraseidiominformal
Used to say that when you are in an unfamiliar place or group, you should follow its customs instead of your own.
Grammar: Stands alone as a full remark; you can add a clause after it, as in 'When in Rome, I ate with my hands.'
Patterns
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do
- When in Rome, ...
Everyone here takes their shoes off at the door, so when in Rome, I do the same.
I don't usually drink tea at midnight, but when in Rome.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do — try the local food and stop complaining.
phraseidiominformalhumorous
Used more loosely to mean you should accept how things are done around you, even if it feels strange.
Grammar: Often said with a shrug or a smile to show you are going along with something you would not normally choose.
Patterns
- when in Rome
- well, when in Rome
My new team has a five-minute dance break every morning, so when in Rome.
She wore a bright orange scarf to the party because, well, when in Rome.
Common combinations
- when in Rome, do as the Romans do
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I bowed instead of shaking hands.
- well, when in Rome
- Everyone was singing at the table, so well, when in Rome.
- I suppose when in Rome
- I suppose when in Rome — I'll wear the silly hat too.
- when in Rome, right?
- You're eating insects? When in Rome, right?
- just go with it — when in Rome
- Nobody uses titles here, so just go with it — when in Rome.
Synonyms and how they differ
- go with the flow
- This focuses on not resisting what is happening, while 'when in Rome' specifically points to local customs.
- do as the locals do
- A plain, literal way to say the same thing, with no hint of humor.
- adapt to local customs
- More formal and neutral; it describes the action rather than giving advice.
Opposites
Word family
- Roman noun
- A person from Rome; the saying comes from the idea of Romans and their habits.
Commonly confused: When in Rome or Rome wasn't built in a day?
When in Rome vs Rome wasn't built in a day
This is a different saying meaning big things take time; it has nothing to do with following local customs.
Practice
Your host family eats dinner at 10 p.m., so you join them. Which remark fits best?
Choose one answer.
'When in Rome' means you follow the local way of doing things, which fits joining a late dinner. 'Rome wasn't built in a day' is about patience with slow progress, not about customs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “When in Rome”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.