go through the motions
idiom
: to do something without making much effort to do it well
He claimed that he was looking for a job, but he was really just going through the motions.
Examples of go through the motions in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bets that almost certainly can’t lose get people to go through the motions of real-life gambling: linking a bank account, transferring money, placing a bet, and watching the winnings pile up.
—
Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023
The incumbent president made no effort even to go through the motions of presenting a future open to deliberation by citizens.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 10 Nov. 2020
After the introduction of the titular crime and a proto-12 Angry Men jury scene, the film becomes a playful meta-commentary on the inherent silliness of watching actors go through the motions of detective work, with numerous charming visual embellishments.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2023
Quarterback Sam Hartman, in his second game back after missing time with a medical condition, will not let his offense just go through the motions.
—USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for go through the motions
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Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023
The incumbent president made no effort even to go through the motions of presenting a future open to deliberation by citizens.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 10 Nov. 2020
After the introduction of the titular crime and a proto-12 Angry Men jury scene, the film becomes a playful meta-commentary on the inherent silliness of watching actors go through the motions of detective work, with numerous charming visual embellishments.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2023
Quarterback Sam Hartman, in his second game back after missing time with a medical condition, will not let his offense just go through the motions.
—USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for go through the motions
Cite this Entry
“Go through the motions.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20through%20the%20motions. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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