English idiom
whack-a-mole
Example
“Hotfixing those crashes is pure whack-a-mole; we need to fix the memory leak.”
Dictionary details
Alternate forms
- playing whack-a-mole
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
band-aid fix
CEFR B2a hasty, temporary solution that patches a symptom without addressing the root cause
iron out the kinks
CEFR B2to fix the last small problems in a plan, process, or product
quick and dirty
CEFR B2done rapidly and roughly, with little care for quality or polish
reinvent the wheel
CEFR B2to waste time recreating something that already exists and works well
smoke test
CEFR B2a quick, shallow test that checks whether a system's most basic functions work at all
the elephant in the room
CEFR B2an obvious and important problem that everyone notices but avoids discussing
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.