phoning it in
Going through motions
Phoning it in means doing something 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 was clearly phoning it in during the third sequel.
Often used critically: Don't phone it in on this presentation; it matters.
- halfheartedLacking sincere commitment
- lazyAvoiding effort or exertion
- uninspiredLacking creative spark
- going through the motionsPerforming without genuine effort
- going through motionsPerforming without genuine engagement
autopilot · lackluster · effortless · coasting · mailing it in · slacking · bare minimum · mediocre · apathetic · disengaged · minimal effort · checked out · sleepwalking · running on fumes · perfunctory · sloppy · careless · indifferent
- shoddinessslipshod, slapdash, hack job, botch job, botch
- Complacencytoo comfortable, going through motions, mailing it in, self-satisfied, status quo
- Incompetencebungle, failure, botch, inability, blunder
- lazinesslaziness, sloth, idleness, apathy, lethargy
phoning it ingoing all out
Exerting total effort
giving 110% · going the extra mile · putting in the work · going above and beyond · grinding
phoning it incraftsmanship
Skill in making objects
tour de force · perfectionism · masterwork · raising the bar · attention to detail
phone, phones, phoned, phoning, telephone, telephones, telephoned, telephoning, telephonic