go through the motions

Idioms  

1. Do something perfunctorily, or merely pretend to do it. For example, The team is so far behind that they're just going through the motions, or She didn't really grieve at his death; she just went through the motions. [c. 1800]

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Example Sentences

Mr. Bennett, age 91, and Mr. Hytner, 69, seem to be going through the motions with this effort, which feels like a forgettable Sunday-night PBS presentation.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was an opportunity to wrap the hands with his new training team, do the ringwalk and go through the motions.

From BBC

It’s an assembly of archetypes going through the motions, snow falling and lights twinkling all the while.

From The Wall Street Journal

Megan was kind though to not make the sting of the split worse by going through the motions of the wedding day just to say no.

From Los Angeles Times

“It helps to go through the motions; even though she’s not here I still love her just as much as I did when she was.”

From Salon