茅盾《清明前后》第一幕：“徒劳而无功，头痛医头，脚痛医脚的办法，兄弟一向是坚决反对的！”

头痛医头，脚痛医脚指只医治疼痛的部位，不追究病根。比喻处理问题不从全局考其根本，什么地方有问题就在什么地方解决，临时应付。

to treat the symptoms rather than getting to the root of the problem (proverb); reactive (rather than proactive)