go through the motions
Related to go through the motions: follow suit, defer to, in its entirety, holding up, picking on
go through the motions
To do the base functions of some activity without much thought or interest. I've done this job for so long that I just go through the motions every day. A lot of people in church are just there to go through the motions instead of really trying to apply the sermon to their lives.
See also: go, motion, through
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
go through the motions
Fig. to make a feeble effort to do something; to do something insincerely or in cursory fashion. Jane isn't doing her best. She's just going through the motions. Bill was supposed to be raking the yard, but he was just going through the motions.
See also: go, motion, through
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
go through the motions
Do something perfunctorily, or merely pretend to do it. For example, The team is so far behind that they're just going through the motions, or She didn't really grieve at his death; she just went through the motions. [c. 1800]
See also: go, motion, through
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
go through the motions
COMMON If you go through the motions, you do something that you have to do or are expected to do, but without any real effort or enthusiasm. Students who did attend classes with any regularity seemed to be just going through the motions. `You don't really care, do you?' she said quietly.`You're just going through the motions.'
See also: go, motion, through
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
go through the motions
1 do something perfunctorily, without any enthusiasm or commitment. 2 simulate an action; act out something.See also: go, motion, through
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
go through the ˈmotions (of doing something)
do something or say something because you have to, not because you really want to: He went through the motions of welcoming her friends, but then quickly left the room. She’s not really interested in the subject — she’s just going through the motions.See also: go, motion, through
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
go through the motions
To do something in a mechanical manner indicative of a lack of interest or involvement.
See also: go, motion, through
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- motion
- settle down to (something)
- practice on
- practice on (someone or something)
- alarms and excursions
- alarums and excursions
- excursion
- like a well-oiled machine
- oiled
- a well-oiled machine