go through the motions go through the motions /ɡoʊ θruː ðə ˈmoʊʃənz/

verb

1. Pretend to do something by acting as if one was really doing it  ( go through the motions )
   pretend to do something by acting as if one was really doing it
    She isn't really working--she's just going through the motions
   She isn't really working--she's just going through the motions