もそこそこにCutting something short and moving on
もそこそこに says that someone gives an activity only minimal time or attention before hurrying on to another action. It implies that the first activity was rushed or left insufficiently done.
How it works
The noun names the activity that receives too little attention. The following action shows what the person hurried on to do, while the surrounding context usually explains the urgency, impatience, excitement, or other reason for cutting the first activity short.
Moving on in a hurry
Notice that the English translations preserve the sense that the first activity was not properly completed.
知らせを聞くと、彼は食事もそこそこに家を飛び出した。
On hearing the news, he barely paused over his meal before rushing out of the house.
Analyze急報を受け、隊員たちは休憩もそこそこに現場へ戻った。
After receiving an urgent report, the team cut their break short and returned to the scene.
Analyze病院から電話を受けた彼女は、話もそこそこに席を立った。
After receiving a call from the hospital, she cut the conversation short and left her seat.
AnalyzeMore than simply brief
The construction does not merely report that one activity was brief. It presents that activity as receiving less time or care than would normally be expected. Depending on context, this can sound critical, sympathetic, or simply vivid.
Cutting something short versus using an opportunity
もそこそこに means that the first activity receives too little attention because the person moves on. By contrast, ついでに simply uses the opportunity created by one action to do another; it does not suggest that the first action was neglected.
More examples
出発時間が迫り、彼らは準備もそこそこに宿を後にした。
With departure time approaching, they left the inn after only hurried preparations.
Analyze彼は挨拶もそこそこに、待たせていた車へ急いだ。
He gave only a hurried greeting before rushing to the waiting car.
Analyze避難命令が出ると、住民たちは荷造りもそこそこに家を離れた。
When the evacuation order was issued, the residents packed only the bare essentials and left their homes.
Analyze始発に間に合うよう、朝食もそこそこに駅へ向かった。
To catch the first train, I rushed through breakfast and headed for the station.
Analyze新しい手掛かりが見つかり、捜査員たちは打ち合わせもそこそこに現場へ飛び出した。
When a new lead emerged, the investigators cut their meeting short and rushed to the scene.
Analyze結果を早く知らせたくて、彼女は後片付けもそこそこに研究室を出た。
Eager to report the results, she did only a cursory cleanup before leaving the laboratory.
Analyze