phone it in
Go through motions
To phone it in is to perform a task with minimal effort, going through the motions without genuine engagement or care.
The image is of someone so disengaged they might as well not be present—just calling in their contribution from elsewhere.
The actor clearly phoned it in during the sequel.
Don't phone it in just because it's Friday.
- slackAbsence of tautness
- lazyAvoiding effort or exertion
- halfheartedLacking sincere commitment
- going through the motionsPerforming without genuine effort
- going through motionsPerforming without genuine engagement
autopilot · coasting · mailing it in · effort · unmotivated · careless · sloppy · bare minimum · lackluster · uninspired · checked out · sleepwalking · apathetic · perfunctory · indifferent · half-assed · mediocre · shortcut
- work idiomsburning out, rat race, climb the ladder, glass ceiling, golden handshake
- telephonycall, dial tone, dial, landline, handset
- doing nothingdo nothing, stand still, sit tight, stay put, keep still
- lazinesslaziness, sloth, idleness, apathy, lethargy
- negligence expressionsdrop the ball, asleep at the wheel, let slide, slack off, caught napping
- theater jargonbackstage, center stage, curtain call, downstage, dress rehearsal
phone it ingo all out
Commit completely, withhold nothing
give 110% · go the extra mile · leave it all on the field · hustle · grind
phone it inknock it out of the park
Achieve extraordinary success
hit it out of the park · nail it · crush it · ace it · raise the bar
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