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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

jump through hoops en · VERB

Etymology

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

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To put forth great effort to meet requirements, usually arbitrary, set by someone.
    • Caregivers also described having to “jump through hoops” to accomplish what they needed. 2020, Kevin J. Mahoney, Ellen K. Mahoney, Michelle Putnam, Self-Direction in Long Term Services and Supports:
    • 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. 2014, Jason Brennan, Lisa Hill, Compulsory Voting: For and Against, page 19:
    • They really made the salesman jump through hoops before buying anything.
    • 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. 2010, Brad Johnson, Tammy Maxson McElroy, The Edutainer: Connecting the Art and Science of Teaching, page 141:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
jumps through hoops Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
go through hoops alternative lexicographic
leap through hoops alternative lexicographic
jumping through hoops Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
jumped through hoops Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
jumped through hoops Tense=Past lexicographic

Relateds

put through hoops

Synonyms

bend over backwards