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When in Rome, do as the Romans do
- When visiting a foreign land, follow the customs of those who live in it. It can also mean that when you are in an unfamiliar situation, you should follow the lead of those who know the ropes .
Idioms and Phrases
Follow local custom, as in Kate said they'd all be wearing shorts or blue jeans to the outdoor wedding, so when in Romeâwe'll do the same . This advice allegedly was Saint Ambrose's answer to Saint Augustine when asked whether they should fast on Saturday as Romans did, or not, as in Milan. It appeared in English by about 1530 and remains so well known that it is often shortened, as in the example.Example Sentences
Or to put it another way: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
âWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do,â Dave Feinberg, owner of Cutters Edge, a knife-sharpening business, since 1995, told NJ.com.
âWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in North Carolina, do as the governor says.â
âWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do,â has lost its meaning.
âLiyana, you must be patient. Cultural differences arenât learned or understood immediately. Most importantly, you must abide by the guidelines where you are living. This is common sense. It will protect you. You know that phrase you always hatedâWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do? You must remember, you are not in the United States.â
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American HeritageŸ Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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