going through the motions

Pitchfork's Olivia Horn said Swift was "largely retreading old territory", an accusation echoed by Rolling Stone's Larisha Paul, who said the star was "going through the motions while running in place".

But, at times, Bogdanovic felt like he was merely going through the motions.

Interviews with voters across the state reveal many are unhappy with their choices, and feel that they’re going through the motions in a simulation of a contest.

He has been going through the motions a little bit.

I mean, obviously I’m not just sitting there going through the motions of the slow and “the one-one pitch, that’s outside, it’s two and one.”