画饼充饥 (huà bǐng chōng jī): lit. to allay one's hunger using a picture of a cake; to feed on illusions

画huà饼bǐng充chōng饥jī

lit. to allay one's hunger using a picture of a cake; to feed on illusions

Drawing a cake to satisfy hunger. For the promise, the plan or the projection that feeds nobody.