PhrasesHub

Jump through hoops

    Definitions

      • to go through difficult or challenging tasks or requirements
        To express the idea of having to complete a series of difficult or tedious tasks or meet certain requirements in order to achieve a goal or desired outcome.

      • to make great efforts
        To convey the idea of putting in a lot of effort or exerting oneself in order to accomplish a task or reach a goal, often in the face of obstacles or challenges.

      • to comply with strict rules or expectations
        To indicate the idea of having to follow strict rules or meet high expectations in order to achieve something, often in a formal or bureaucratic context.

    Examples of Jump through hoops

    • The company's new marketing strategy requires us to jump through hoops to meet their unrealistic demands.

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone is being asked to do something that is difficult, time-consuming, or unpleasant in order to please another person or organization. The image of jumping through hoops suggests that the person is being asked to perform a series of tasks or requirements in order to succeed. In this example, the company's new marketing strategy is requiring the speaker and their team to go above and beyond what is expected of them in order to meet the company's unrealistic demands.

    • The CEO demanded that the entire sales team jump through hoops to meet their quarterly sales targets, or face being let go.

      This example illustrates the use of the idiom in a more extreme situation. The CEO is essentially putting pressure on the sales team to perform at a high level, threatening them with the possibility of losing their jobs if they fail to meet the targets. The image of jumping through hoops highlights the difficult and demanding nature of the situation.

    • The customer service representative had to jump through hoops to resolve the customer's complaint, but in the end, the customer was satisfied with the outcome.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where someone is going to great lengths to resolve a problem or issue. In this case, the customer service representative had to put in a lot of effort to resolve the customer's complaint, but ultimately, the customer was satisfied with the outcome.

    • The project manager asked the team to jump through hoops to meet the project deadline, but they managed to deliver the project on time.

      This example demonstrates how the idiom can be used to describe a challenging situation that is ultimately successful. The project manager asked the team to put in a lot of effort to meet the project deadline, but they were able to deliver the project on time, despite the challenges.

    • The teacher assigned a project that required the students to jump through hoops, but they enjoyed the challenge and learned a lot in the process.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where someone is being asked to put in a lot of effort, but ultimately, it leads to a positive outcome. In this case, the teacher assigned a challenging project to the students, but they enjoyed the challenge and learned a lot in the process.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "jump through hoops" can be used to convey the idea of having to complete a series of difficult or tedious tasks, making great efforts, or complying with strict rules or expectations in order to achieve a goal or desired outcome.

    In all of these meanings, the idiom emphasizes the idea of having to work hard or go through challenges in order to accomplish something. It can also imply a sense of frustration or annoyance with the difficulty of the tasks or requirements.

    Origin of "Jump through hoops"

    The origin of the idiom "jump through hoops" is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated from circus performances. In these shows, animals, particularly trained horses, would jump through hoops as part of their routine. This required a lot of training and effort from both the animal and the trainer, and it was often seen as a difficult and impressive feat.

    Over time, the idiom was adopted into everyday language to describe the idea of completing difficult tasks or overcoming obstacles in order to achieve a goal. It can also be used figuratively to refer to any challenging or tedious task, not just those related to circus performances.