Idiom for doing trivial things during a crisis

Question

I'm looking for an idiom for when someone will do small, irrelevant tasks during a crisis instead of working to solve the crisis. The focus of the phrase wouldn't be on procrastinating, it would be about ignoring the crisis entirely.

Some examples:

Choosing to organize the supply cupboard when a short deadline suddenly appears
A stock trader doing low priority market research during a market crash
Sweeping up the ashes while your house is still on fire
Changing the oil of your car when you have 4 flat tires

Is there an idiom for this? I feel like it has been on the tip of my tongue for days now.

Cats are notable (examples). Their self -licking is not solely hygienic; sometimes it is what psychologists call "displacement activity." — FumbleFingers, Mar 30 '16 at 15:20
Only on EL&U can you find the answers to your burning language questions and learn fascinating cat facts simultaneously. — John Clifford, Mar 30 '16 at 15:23
@John Clifford: I tried to find one that specifically mentioned the cat licking its bum (which I'm sure is my cat's way of saying Pay attention to you? I'd rather lick my own asshole for the next half hour!). But even though this is a well-known aspect of cat behaviour, I couldn't track down that exact one. :) — FumbleFingers, Mar 30 '16 at 15:41
I think that's just such common behaviour that nobody felt it worthwhile writing an article on it. — John Clifford, Mar 30 '16 at 15:42

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 30 '16 at 15:04

5

The one I hear most often is "fiddling while Rome burns."

answered Mar 30 '16 at 15:04

Chris Bergin

803

That's the one. I knew there was a musical connotation to it. – Myles Mar 30 '16 at 16:28

cobaltduck · Answer 2 · 2016-03-30T15:21:06.340

1

The most common example of this where I am from is to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. It means exactly what you say in your title- to focus on a trivial or cosmetic matter instead of the real problem.

Another similar but maybe not as directly related expression is bike-shedding, which describes the tendency of some large bureaucratic organizations to spend too much time on the fine details of a project rather than the truly important features.

edited Mar 30 '16 at 15:21

answered Mar 30 '16 at 15:10

cobaltduck

12,897

Two up and two down but no comments. Anyone want to explain? – cobaltduck Mar 30 '16 at 17:12

Graffito · Answer 3 · 2016-03-30T15:22:55.740

-2

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote:

"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least".

edited Mar 30 '16 at 15:22

answered Mar 30 '16 at 15:09

Graffito

13,201

Idiom for doing trivial things during a crisis

3 Answers3