go through the motions

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to do something because you are expected to do it and not because you want to. 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. (often in continuous tenses)

See also: motion, through

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? References in periodicals archive
The place where God reveals our brokenness seems obvious--we go through the motions of a religious life in a culture that many experience as unjust, we are not faithful, and we are not prepared (despite, I suspect, some of you having been Boy Scouts). Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost (proper 27): November 6, 2005 by Mack, Carey Gardiner / Currents in Theology and Mission This feeling has sometimes been compared to an out-of-body experience: the limbs and muscles go through the motions they have learned, but the mind and spirit seem to be elsewhere. What do you think about when you play? by Johansen, Ken / American Music Teacher To watch Aloysius and Flynn go through the motions of courtesy (while knowing what's boiling under the surface) is to experience an inspired moment of dramatic irony. The cost of justice: John Patrick Shanley's 'doubt' by Gallicho, Grant / Commonweal More results

References in periodicals archive

The place where God reveals our brokenness seems obvious--we go through the motions of a religious life in a culture that many experience as unjust, we are not faithful, and we are not prepared (despite, I suspect, some of you having been Boy Scouts).

Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost (proper 27): November 6, 2005 by Mack, Carey Gardiner / Currents in Theology and Mission

This feeling has sometimes been compared to an out-of-body experience: the limbs and muscles go through the motions they have learned, but the mind and spirit seem to be elsewhere.

What do you think about when you play? by Johansen, Ken / American Music Teacher

To watch Aloysius and Flynn go through the motions of courtesy (while knowing what's boiling under the surface) is to experience an inspired moment of dramatic irony.

The cost of justice: John Patrick Shanley's 'doubt' by Gallicho, Grant / Commonweal

More results

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go the whole nine yards
go thin on top
go through
go through fire and water
go through hell
go through like a dose of salts
go through the mill

go through the motions
go through the roof
go through the wringer
go through with
go to any lengths
go to bat for
go to bed with
Go to blazes

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