jump through hoops

English

Alternative forms

• go through hoops, leap through hoops

Etymology

Reminiscent of a circus animal performing tricks by jumping through hoops.

Verb

jump through hoops (third-person singular simple present jumps through hoops, present participle jumping through hoops, simple past and past participle jumped through hoops)

1. (idiomatic) To put forth great effort to meet requirements, usually arbitrary, set by someone.

   They really made the salesman jump through hoops before buying anything.

   • 2010, Brad Johnson, Tammy Maxson McElroy, The Edutainer: Connecting the Art and Science of Teaching, page 141:

     If learning is deemed valuable and important to the student, then the educator doesn't need a scripted curriculum or a fad initiative that has students and the educator jumping through hoops.

   • 2014, Jason Brennan, Lisa Hill, Compulsory Voting: For and Against, page 19:

     If a government says to citizens, “We will punish you for abstaining, unless you jump through the following legal hoops,” it is still coercing citizens.

   • 2020, Kevin J. Mahoney, Ellen K. Mahoney, Michelle Putnam, Self-Direction in Long Term Services and Supports:

     Caregivers also described having to “jump through hoops” to accomplish what they needed.