<p>“敷衍了事” is a right Chinese saying to describe your situation.</p>

<p>Besides,you can also say something like “搪塞”，“蒙混过关”…… related to this meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-09T02:34:47.840Z
2014-10-09T02:34:47.840Z
xqMogvKW
<p>敷衍了事 is pretty idiomatic to me. An alternative which is a bit more formal is 敷衍塞責.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-09T05:23:20.743Z
2014-10-09T05:23:20.743Z
monalisa
<p>Is there a <strong>idiomatic</strong> translation for ‘phone it in’ in Chinese?</p>
<p>Bolded what I'm looking for above, I'm not looking for things like <code>敷衍了事</code>, but something more <strong>idiomatic</strong>.</p>
<p>In case anyone is confused as to what phone it in means, the <strong>Advanced English Dictionary</strong> defines it as:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>phone it in</em></p>
<p>(idiomatic) To fulfill a responsibility with a minimum effort rather than the appropriate level of effort.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-08T21:33:05.320Z
Why do you think 敷衍了事 is not idiomatic?
user58955
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-09T06:12:43.067Z
敷衍了事 is pretty idiomatic to me. Are you looking for something more *colloquial* or *slangy*?
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-09T09:39:03.983Z
I was hoping for something slightly less *direct*. 敷衍了事 just seems to be stating the facts like: *perfunctorily finish something*.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-09T19:50:04.183Z
To me, "phone it in" is more particular than just any way of doing a sloppy job.  It means doing a job where you are supposed to have special ability -- like performing as a singer or musician, or teaching a class-- and you go through the motions without making any effort.  If I get hired to do lawn work and work slow and I sneak off every time I can to goof off out of the boss's sight, that is 敷衍了事 but would not be called phoning it in -- because you cannot "phone in" lawn work.
Colin McLarty
<translation>
Translation: ‘phone it in’
# Translation: ‘phone it in’

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-08)

Is there a **idiomatic** translation for ‘phone it in’ in Chinese?

Bolded what I'm looking for above, I'm not looking for things like `敷衍了事`, but something more **idiomatic**.

In case anyone is confused as to what phone it in means, the **Advanced English Dictionary** defines it as:

> *phone it in*
>
> (idiomatic) To fulfill a responsibility with a minimum effort rather than the appropriate level of effort.

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why do you think 敷衍了事 is not idiomatic?  
> **username_2**: 敷衍了事 is pretty idiomatic to me. Are you looking for something more *colloquial* or *slangy*?  
> **username_0**: I was hoping for something slightly less *direct*. 敷衍了事 just seems to be stating the facts like: *perfunctorily finish something*.  
> **username_3**: To me, "phone it in" is more particular than just any way of doing a sloppy job.  It means doing a job where you are supposed to have special ability -- like performing as a singer or musician, or teaching a class-- and you go through the motions without making any effort.  If I get hired to do lawn work and work slow and I sneak off every time I can to goof off out of the boss's sight, that is 敷衍了事 but would not be called phoning it in -- because you cannot "phone in" lawn work.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-10-09. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

“敷衍了事” is a right Chinese saying to describe your situation.

Besides,you can also say something like “搪塞”，“蒙混过关”…… related to this meaning.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-10-09. Score: 0

敷衍了事 is pretty idiomatic to me. An alternative which is a bit more formal is 敷衍塞責.


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