扬汤止沸yáng tāng zhǐ fèitry to stop water from boiling by scooping it up and pouring it back—an ineffectual remedy; a temporary redress; apply a palliative; relieve the people in distress temporarily
❍ ～，不如去薪；溃痈虽痛，胜于养毒。(《三国演义》22)Now to stop the ebullition of a pot the best way is to withdraw the fire; to cut out an abscess,though painful,is better than to nourish the evil. 扬汤止沸yánɡ tānɡ zhǐ fèi汤：开水。把锅里的开水舀来舀去来制止水的沸腾。比喻办事治标不治本，不能从根本上解决问题；比喻暂时缓解急难。an ineffectual remedy, apply a palliative |