急时抱佛脚
jí​shí​bào​fó​jiǎo

to seek help only in a crisis

  1. 急 jí adjective
    urgent
    pressing; requiring immediate attention
  2. 时 時 shí particlepreposition
    when
    the time when something happens; used after a verb or clause to mean "at the time of" or "when"
  3. 抱佛脚 抱佛腳 bào​fó​jiǎo verb + noun
    to make a last-minute effort
    To scramble to make up for a lack of preparation or make a frantic, last-ditch effort; often used in the context of cramming for an exam.