Roman holiday
Suffering as spectacle
Roman holiday refers to enjoyment derived from watching others suffer or fight—from the spectacle of gladiatorial combat in ancient Rome.
The phrase suggests entertainment at someone else's expense: The press coverage of the scandal became a Roman holiday.
Separately, a Roman holiday can mean a vacation or carefree adventure abroad, popularized by the 1953 film.
Ancient Roman combat entertainers
- ColosseumFlavian arena in Rome
- CaesarRoman imperial title
- legionsGreat many, or armies
- togaAncient draped garment
forum · chariot · centurion · senate · aqueducts · patricians · plebeians · empire
Boot-shaped European nation
- RomeItaly's capital city
- VaticanPapal city-state
- sightseeingVisiting places of interest
- Trevi FountainFamous Roman water feature
Spanish Steps · Piazza · gelato · espresso · Vespa · guidebook · pilgrimage · cuisine
Festive event marking occasion
- carnivalTraveling amusement attraction
- festivalOrganized public celebration
- revelryNoisy, lively celebration
- pageantStaged public display
parade · merrymaking · gala · fiesta · jubilee · fete · banquet · fair
- princessMonarch's daughter or heir
- journalistNews profession practitioner
- scooterTwo-wheeled standing vehicle
- incognitoWith identity concealed
Gregory Peck · escape · 1953 · Paramount · Oscar · comedy · classic · black-and-white
Moral decline through excess
- luxuryExpensive nonessential comfort
- pleasureHappy, satisfied feeling
- hedonismPursuit of gratification
- extravaganceExcessive, wasteful spending
opulence · sensuality · self-indulgence · gratification · excess · splurge · epicurean · sybaritic
gladiators
Ancient Roman combat entertainers
toga · forum · chariot · centurion · senate · aqueducts · patricians · plebeians · empire · consul
Italy
Boot-shaped European nation
- RomeItaly's capital city
- VaticanPapal city-state
- sightseeingVisiting places of interest
Trevi Fountain · Spanish Steps · Piazza · gelato · espresso · Vespa · guidebook · pilgrimage · cuisine · pasta
celebration
Festive event marking occasion
- carnivalTraveling amusement attraction
- festivalOrganized public celebration
- revelryNoisy, lively celebration
pageant · parade · merrymaking · gala · fiesta · jubilee · fete · banquet · fair · regatta
Audrey Hepburn
- princessMonarch's daughter or heir
- journalistNews profession practitioner
- scooterTwo-wheeled standing vehicle
Gregory Peck · incognito · escape · 1953 · Paramount · Oscar · comedy · classic · black-and-white · disguise
decadence
Moral decline through excess
- luxuryExpensive nonessential comfort
- pleasureHappy, satisfied feeling
- hedonismPursuit of gratification
extravagance · opulence · sensuality · self-indulgence · gratification · excess · splurge · epicurean · sybaritic · dolce vita
Roman holidayempathy
Sharing another's emotions
compassion · fellow feeling · sympathy · pity · commiseration
Roman, holiday, Romans, romance, Romance, romantic, romanticism, romanticize, romantically