You just make some perfunctory apology, smile and laugh, and that's that.

He surprised Ryan with what might have been a perfunctory apology.

President Clinton's aides, with perfunctory apologies, are already talking about the election in the past tense, wondering only how low the turnout will be.

To add to his annoyance, the loudspeaker was announcing with perfunctory apology that three trains had already been taken off that evening because of a go slow.

He offered perfunctory apologies to the reporters that they couldn't "see the texture yourselves," and then re-ascended to the summit.

He made a perfunctory apology to the American for speaking in French, but the big man had merely waved his cigar expansively and told him to "go right ahead."

Callers were received with a perfunctory apology in the spartan parlor.

'We need all the mages this time,' said Halice with perfunctory apology.

Even that failed to rouse them further than perfunctory apologies for making her see to that herself.

Someone jostled him and muttered a perfunctory apology, racing back to another work crew.