jump through hoops

jump through hoops

The Kremlin's making Western companies jump through more hoops to get out: NYT

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.
jump through hoops
To face or have to complete many challenges in pursuit of something that one wants, especially challenges that seem arbitrary or excessive.
The boss made me jump through a lot of hoops to earn this corner office, believe me. I was doing everything from leading presentations to getting him coffee for months.
You shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to get a car loan. At Johnson Motors, we make it easy for you.
See also: hoop, jump, through
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
jump through a hoop and jump through hoops
Fig. to do everything possible to obey or please someone; to bend over backwards (to do something). (Trained circus animals jump through hoops.) She expects us to jump through hoops for her. What do you want me to do—jump through a hoop?
See also: hoop, jump, through
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
jump through hoops
Do just about anything to please someone. For example, The boss expects the entire staff to jump through hoops for him, or This violinist will jump through hoops for the conductor. This metaphoric expression alludes to trained circus animals jumping through hoops. [Early 1900s]
See also: hoop, jump, through
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
jump through hoops or go through hoops
If you have to jump through hoops or go through hoops to get or achieve something that you want, you have to do a lot of difficult things first. Eventually, if they jump through enough hoops, they can get work visas. He had to go through hoops to stop our games from being scheduled on a Sunday. Note: Circus animals are sometimes trained to jump through hoops which are hung or held above the ground and sometimes set on fire.
See also: hoop, jump, through
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
jump through hoops be obliged to go through an elaborate or complicated procedure in order to achieve an objective.
2002 Guardian For the Going Underground single in 1980 , the producer made Weller jump through hoops to deliver a convincing vocal performance.
See also: hoop, jump, through
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
jump through ;hoops do something difficult or complicated in order to achieve something: How did you manage to get permission for this? Did you have to jump through hoops?
This refers to the circus, where animals are made to jump through a hoop (= a large ring of plastic, iron, etc.).
See also: hoop, jump, through
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
jump through hoops
To make extraordinary efforts, especially in following a prescribed procedure.
See also: hoop, jump, through
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
See also:
go through hoops
jump through a hoop
jump through the hoop
hoops
put (one) through the hoops
put someone through the hoops
go through fire
go through fire and water
stick at
go through hell and high water