聊以塞责liáo yǐ sè zéas a matter of form; just to meet the bare requirements
❍ 第三，那位宝贝外甥吴荪甫也不把老舅父放在眼里了，只来了这么一通～的电报，却并没专派一条小火轮来请他去。(茅盾《子夜》96) On top of that,his nephew had failed to show him the courtesy due to an uncle; he had sent only an ordinary telegram—and even that only as a matter of form—instead of a specially chartered boat to fetch him to Shanghai.
❍ 宝玉却未曾会过孙绍祖一面的，次日只得过去了，～。(《红楼梦》1038) Baoyu had never set eyes on this Sun Shaozu,so the next day he had to go over for courtesy’s sake to meet him… 聊以塞责liáo yǐ sè zé塞：搪塞；责：责任。姑且用以搪塞、应付自己应负的责任。trump up so as to avoid blame, just to meet the pure requirements |