go through the motions

Go through the motions To do something in a mechanical manner indicative of a lack of interest or involvement.

I'm convinced the new method won't work but I'll still have to go through the motions .

Indeed, many of the dons who "taught" me didn't even pretend to go through the motions, so I had no choice but to teach myself instead.

If you can't get fascinated, you won't care enough to really learn something. You'll just go through the motions. How do you get fascinated?

We must see to it that we solve these serious problems and don't just go through the motions.

I know you don't want to do this, but I think you'd better go through the motions.

People who merely go through the motions each day but who can't help wonder, "Isn't there more to life than this? "

If you want to install it on an actual machine, I suggest you go through the motions in order to get accustomed to it.

they go through the motions of teaching, but they are as impersonal as a telephone.

You can't afford to just coast along, or go through the motions, if you're running a business.

they just go through the motions and "paint by the numbers. "

They go through the motions of releasing the latch from the space station.

I remembered what it felt like to go through the motions of adult life, hoping that I was doing things the right way.

I can go through the motions of putting imaginary food into my mouth.

For such things we just go through the motions [and quit].

Rulers who have entrenched themselves for decades now at least go through the motions of having elections;

"Three Represents" should be learned and applied in practice not go through the motions in college

Just to hold you baby I can hardly wait As we go through the motions damn it's great

Go through the motions of exploring the familiar;