verb
pretend to do something by acting as if one was really doing it
-
She isn't really working—she's just going through the motions
• Hypernyms: ↑make, ↑pretend, ↑make believe
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s
* * *
go through the motions
1. To make a half-hearted attempt
2. To pretend
• • •
Main Entry: ↑motion
* * *
go through the motions phrase
to do things in the usual way but without much effort or enthusiasm because you do not expect to succeed
The leaders are going through the motions of peace talks.
Thesaurus: to do something in a way that is not serioussynonym
Main entry: motion
* * *
do something perfunctorily, without any enthusiasm or commitment
■ simulate an action
a child goes through the motions of washing up
* * *
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.
• • •
Main Entry: ↑motion
Useful english dictionary. 2012.