Meanings
proverb
alternative Rome wasn't burnt in a day · alternative Rome wasn't forgotten in a day
- It takes a long time to destroy something complicated or impressive.
Origin
Modification of Rome wasn't built in a day in reference to the Great Fire of Rome.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
Rome wasn't burned in a day. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rome%20wasn't%20burned%20in%20a%20day
MLA
“Rome wasn't burned in a day.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rome%20wasn't%20burned%20in%20a%20day. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Rome wasn't burned in a day,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rome%20wasn't%20burned%20in%20a%20day.
Source: Rome wasn't burned in a day on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.