| 单词 | going-through-the-motions |
| 释义 | > as lemmasgoing-through-the-motions c. to go through the motions: to simulate a specified action by appropriate gestures or movements; (hence) to do something perfunctorily or superficially, or without enthusiasm; to make a pretence of doing something. Frequently with of followed by a noun or gerundial phrase indicating the specified action. Also occasionally forming the noun phrase going-through-the-motions. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > simulation > simulate [verb (transitive)] belikec1275 counterfeitc1374 imitate1598 dissemble1697 to go through the motions1816 to mock up1914 1816 W. Scott Old Mortality x, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 255 She pressed her handkerchief to her face, sobbed with great vehemence, and either wept, or managed, as Halliday might have said, to go through the motions wonderfully well. 1824 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 1st Ser. III. 27 Going through the motions of breakfast-eating. 1850 ‘M. Tensas’ Odd Leaves from Louisiana Swamp Doctor 88 Cuss you! I was only going through the motions; the rifle ain't loaded! 1856 C. Dickens Little Dorrit (1857) i. xxxvi. 316 Mr. Dorrit urbanely went through the motions of playing a game at skittles with the Collegian who was the next oldest inhabitant to himself. 1900 ‘M. Twain’ Man that corrupted Hadleyburg 298 A Government cannot satisfy all these public opinions; it can only go through the motions of trying. This Government does that. It goes through the motions, and they do not succeed. 1944 H. Croome You've gone Astray xvi. 166 It was pleasant, undoubtedly pleasant. But both of them felt..that in some fundamental sense they were merely going through the motions. 1963 Times Lit. Suppl. 11 Jan. 27/4 A mere exasperated going-through-the-motions. 1995 Spectator 28 Jan. 21/1 They didn't even go through the motions of putting women on the short-list. < as lemmas |
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