make a halfhearted effort

make a halfhearted effort

To do or try to do something in a disinterested and unenthusiastic manner. You can tell the actor is making a halfhearted effort—I'm sure he got a good paycheck for the voiceover, but you'd think he would try a little bit harder. You're definitely not going to get an A on this project if you only make a halfhearted effort to put together your visual aid. Come on, this poster board isn't eye-catching at all.

See also: effort, halfhearted, make

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