契舟求剑 meaning in English

mark the spot on the boat from which the sword fell in order to recover the lost weapon; carve a mark on the gunwale in a moving boat where a sword was lost -- ridiculous stupidity; carve on gunwale of a moving boat making where one's sword has dropped; find the fallen sword by notching the side of the moving boat; mark the boat to locate the sword; seek a sword from a notch on a boat; take measures without regard to changes in circumstances