go through the motions (of doing something)
to do something because you have to do it, without being very interested in it

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

go through the motions
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)

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

go through the motions
to do something insincerely
The manager went through the motions of apologizing but he was not sincere.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

go through the motions
v. phr. To pretend to do something by moving or acting as if you were really doing it; do something without really trying hard or caring.
Jane was angry because she couldn't go out, and when her mother said to dust her room she just went through the motions.
The team was so far behind in the game that they just went through the motions of playing at the end.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲