THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Jump through hoops
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To go through many obstacles or difficulties to achieve something.
Usage note: keep in mind
Jump through hoops means complete many demanding requirements or procedures to achieve a goal. It often suggests the speaker finds the requirements excessive or inconvenient. The past form is jumped through hoops. Explain the goal after to or in order to.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We had to jump through hoops to get the permit approved.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
We had to ________ to get the permit approved.
Show the answer
Jump through hoops — To go through many obstacles or difficulties to achieve something.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Jump through hoops” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
To go through many obstacles or difficulties to achieve something.
Compare: We had to jump through hoops to get the permit approved.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
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More ways to understand and use it
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More examples in context
- We had to jump through hoops to get permission to use the hall.
- The application made us jump through hoops, with several forms requesting the same details.
Check your understanding
What attitude does the idiom often add compared with simply saying 'complete the requirements'?
Check your answer
Frustration at the number or difficulty of the requirements. It is not a neutral description of every ordinary application process.
Use it in your own words
Write one new situation where jump through hoops fits. Explain the situation in plain English first, then rewrite it using the expression. Check that the tone and meaning suit your audience.