rob Peter to pay Paul

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

The expression refers to times before the Reformation when Church taxes had to be paid to St. Paul's church in London and to St. Peter's church in Rome; originally refers to neglecting the Peter tax to obtain money to pay the Paul tax.

[edit] Verb

to rob Peter to pay Paul (third-person singular simple present robs Peter to pay Paul, present participle robbing Peter to pay Paul, simple past and past participle robbed Peter to pay Paul)

1. (idiomatic) To solve a problem in a way that makes another problem worse.