jump through hoops
English
Alternative forms
- 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)
- (idiomatic) To put forth effort to meet (usually arbitrary) requirements set by someone.
- They really made the salesman jump through hoops before buying anything.