when in Rome
Follow local customs
When in Rome is short for "when in Rome, do as the Romans do"—advice to follow local customs when visiting unfamiliar places or situations.
The full proverb appears in formal contexts, but the truncated version works as shorthand for adapting to circumstances: I don't usually eat dinner at 10 p.m., but when in Rome...
The trailing ellipsis is conventional, letting the listener complete the thought.
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- old sayingTime-tested expression of wisdom
- localsArea's permanent inhabitants
- local customsPlace-specific social norms
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
adapt · travel · Italy · saying · conform · tradition · social norms · foreign · etiquette · culture · cultural immersion · blend · blend in · advice · tourists · manners · behave · fit
- common sayingsproverbs, idioms, cliches, maxims, adages
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
- Historical AllusionsTrojan horse, Achilles heel, Pyrrhic victory, crossing the Rubicon, Pandora's box
- adaptabilityadapt, flexibility, resilience, adaptability, pliability
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
- social conformityconformist, peer pressure, herd mentality, groupthink, follow the crowd
when in Romestand apart
Be noticeably different
go against the grain · nonconformity · be yourself · stick out like a sore thumb · buck the trend
when in Romecultural imperialism
Dominant society imposing its ways
ethnocentrism · my way or the highway · stand your ground · take it or leave it · be yourself
when in Romeunwavering
Steady and unchanging
inflexible · uncompromising · rigid · steadfast · hold fast
when, Rome, Roman, Romans, romance, Romance, romantic, romanticize, romanticized