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What does “go through the motions” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
C1
To do something without real effort, interest or enthusiasm
“By the last week of term, the students were just going through the motions.”
From the C1 lesson Creature of Habit (habit idioms).
Quick check
What does “go through the motions” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“go through the motions” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 4 (Communication, Decisions and Habits).
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Related phrases
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- set in your waysunwilling or unable to change your habits or opinions
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- an ingrained habita habit so deeply established that it's hard to notice or change