What does ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ mean?
To “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” means to adapt to local customs when you visit. Brewer's traces the saying to St. Ambrose's advice to St. Augustine in the 4th century.
Origin
- Brewer's traces the saying to St. Ambrose's advice to St. Augustine in the 4th century.
How to use it
- Standard travel and etiquette advice.
- Example: Take off your shoes at the door — when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.