强心针

强心针

Literally means:

cardiac stimulant

Actually means:

injection of cardiotonic

It originally means an injection that helps enhance one's heart function. It figuratively refers to some method or something that helps to increase the con fidence of someone in a tough situation; it also figuratively means some action or some measure that is able to keep the status quo. It connotes that such help only works for the time being.

原指增强心脏机能的针剂。比喻能使处境艰难的人提高信心的办法或事物，也比喻能使原有的局面维持下去的行动或措施。含有只是一时起作用的意味。