扬汤止沸

yángtāng-zhǐfèi

[ineffectual remedy as one who tries to stop water from boiling by scooping it up and pouring it back] 把沸水舀起来再倒回去, 以图阻止住沸腾。 比喻不成功的补救办法, 办法不彻底, 不能从根本上解决问题