Английский словарь американских идиом - 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./