go through the motions 〈口〉装装样子，做出姿态；不花气力(或机械)地敷衍塞责 When her mother told her to dust her room she just went through the motions. 她母亲说要她打扫打扫她的房间，她只是马马虎虎地敷衍了一下。 It would be better if we at least go through the motions of an investigation. 即便是做做样子走过场，我们也最好还是调查一下。