go through the motions
Definition of go through the motions
: 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.
From the M-W Editors
Word by Word Definitions
: to move on a course : proceed — compare stop
: to move out of or away from a place expressed or implied : leave, depart
: to take a certain course or follow a certain procedure
: the act or manner of going
: the height of fashion : rage
: an often unexpected turn of affairs : occurrence
: functioning properly : being in good and ready condition
: a game played between two players who alternately place black and white stones on a board checkered by 19 vertical lines and 19 horizontal lines in an attempt to enclose the larger area on the board
: an act, process, or instance of changing place : movement
: an active or functioning state or condition
: an impulse or inclination of the mind or will
: to signal by a movement or gesture
: to direct by a motion
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