pay lip service meaning?

Question

What is the meaning of "to pay lip service" idiom?

Answer 1

 

Idiom Conjugations:

 

Answer 2

Gerund Form of the Idiom:

Paying lip service is a common behavior of politicians.
 

Answer 3

Idiom Usage:

to pay lip service is similar to being a hypocrite
 

Answer 4

Idiom Scenario 2:

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A husband and wife are talking about their finances ...

Husband:  "I got the latest credit card bill."
Wife:           "Oh, oh."
Husband:  "Oh, oh, indeed!  I thought we talked about you reducing the amount of shopping you were going to do.  This month's credit card bill is even higher than last month's.  I guess you were only paying me lip service about reducing your spending?"
Wife:          "I tried to spend less but there were so many sales.  I just had to shop!"

Answer 5

Idiom Scenario 1:

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Politicians who are trying to get elected always talk about how important the unemployment rate is.  They talk
about how they will start programs to create jobs when they are elected to government.  When the politician is
elected, we realize that they had only been paying lip service to the unemployment issue because they do not
pursue any activities that will create jobs and the unemployment rate remains the same.
 

Answer 6

Idiom Definition:

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"to pay lip service"

to appear to agree with or support someone or something but to not really support, believe in or agree with it. 
There is only talk (lip service) and no action.
 

Synonyms: deceit, dishonesty, duplicity, empty, hollow, hypocrisy, hypocritical, glib, insincerity, jive, lie, mouthing, pretense, sanctimony, sanctimonious, sham, show, tokenism