mails it in
Phones it in
To mail it in is to put in minimal effort, going through the motions without genuine commitment or energy.
The phrase suggests someone doing just enough to technically complete a task: The actor clearly mailed it in during the sequel.
It evokes sending work from a distance rather than showing up to do it properly.
Originally from sports, where a player's lackluster performance suggested they could have stayed home and mailed their contribution.
- slackingAvoiding effort deliberately
- phoning it inPerforming without genuine commitment
- subparBelow acceptable quality
- mediocreOf only moderate quality
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
cutting corners · laziness · disinterest · apathy · indifference · careless · perfunctory · coasting · half-heartedness · rushed · disengagement · going through the motions · autopilot · complacency · inattentive · sloppy · unsatisfactory · negligence
mails it ingoes all out
Exerts total effort
goes the extra mile · hustles · grinds · pulls out all the stops · strives
mail, mails, mailed, mailing, mailer, mailers, mailman, mailbox