jump through hoops

phrase

informal
: to do a complicated or annoying series of things in order to get or achieve something
We had to jump through a lot of hoops to get a loan from the bank.
It shouldn't be necessary to jump through hoops to get a computer to work properly.

Examples of jump through hoops in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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There are some providers operating on extended schedules already, but most have historically been needs-based, with parents needing to jump through hoops to prove their eligibility. Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026 The state of Connecticut should not force parents to jump through hoops held by state bureaucrats. Nicholas Tampio, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026 Republican voters were whiter, older, and richer, and thus more likely to vote and to jump through hoops to do so. Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026 The situation has created a ripple effect, forcing New York lawmakers to jump through hoops to distance themselves from ICE. Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jump through hoops

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Cite this Entry

“Jump through hoops.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump%20through%20hoops. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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