to go through the motions - to make a feeble effort to do
something; to do
something insincerely or in cursory fashion; to do
something because you are expected to do it and not because you want to; to do something without believing it is important
Jane isn't doing her best. She'
s just going through the motions.
Bill was supposed to be raking the yard, but he was just going through the motions.
These days when we go out, cook a meal together, or even make love, I get the feeling that he'
s just going through the motions.
After his wife died, he went through the motions of living, without feeling much of anything.