lit. drinking poison to quench one's thirst; used to describe taking a desperate, harmful measure to solve a temporary problem without regard for the disastrous consequences

To quench one's thirst by thinking of plums; to comfort oneself with empty hopes or unrealistic fantasies when a wish cannot be realized.

(variant form) to use a remedy that is worse than the disease; to seek a quick fix while ignoring the catastrophic long-term consequences

to drink poison to quench a thirst; to seek temporary relief with no regard for the disastrous consequences that follow

to allay one's hunger and slake one's thirst

to stimulate the production of saliva and quench thirst; refreshing and throat-moistening