揚湯止沸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；潰癰雖痛，勝于養(yǎng)毒。(《三國演義》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. 揚湯止沸yánɡ tānɡ zhǐ fèi湯：開水。把鍋里的開水舀來舀去來制止水的沸騰。比喻辦事治標不治本，不能從根本上解決問題；比喻暫時緩解急難。an ineffectual remedy, apply a palliative |