hoop

a whoop and a holler

1. A period or instance of loud, wild shouting. The entire bar burst out in a whoop and a holler when their team won the Super Bowl. The kids ran off with a whoop and a holler. Are you guys OK in here? I heard a whoop and a holler.

2. A particularly fun, wild time. The bar isn't the prettiest place in town, but it's always good for a whoop and a holler. You spend every cent you earn on a whoop and a holler, when you should be putting some of it away into your savings. I'm so exhausted—we really had a whoop and a holler on our beach vacation.

3. An especially short distance. So, I think you're all set to start working. If you need anything, I'm only a whoop and a holler away! Thankfully, my apartment was a whoop and a holler from the college, so I didn't need a car to get to classes each day. Man, I miss the days when we all lived in the old neighborhood and you were just a whoop and a holler away.

4. A small or trivial amount. Usually used after "worth." I've learned by now that his promises ain't worth a whoop and a holler. A: "Do you want to hold onto this book?" B: "Nah, that old thing isn't worth a whoop and a holler. You can toss it." I hate to tell you this, Grandma, but that antique vase isn't worth a whoop and a holler.

See also: and, holler, whoop

be put through the hoop

To be subjected to some ordeal, difficulty, trial, or punishment; to undergo an unpleasant experience. Between my mother's bout with cancer, Jenny losing her job, and the bank threatening to foreclose on the house, our family has really been put through the hoop this year. Jake wasn't a great fit for the military, and he was constantly being put through the hoop for disobedience. I don't want to play for that coach—his players are always put through the hoop before the season even begins!

See also: hoop, put, through

go through hoops

To face or have to complete many challenges in pursuit of something that one wants, especially challenges that seem arbitrary or excessive. The boss made me go through a lot of hoops to earn this corner office, believe me. I was doing everything from leading presentations to getting him coffee for months. They really make you go through hoops to complete the purchase. I'm surprised it's not more streamlined. You shouldn't have to go through hoops just to get a car loan. At Johnson Motors, we make it easy for you.

See also: go, hoop, through

go through the hoop

To face or be forced to complete a rigorous challenge or ordeal in pursuit of something that one wants, especially when it seems arbitrary or excessive. The boss made me go through the hoop to earn this corner office, believe me. I was doing everything from leading presentations to getting him coffee for months. They really make you go through the hoop to complete the purchase. I'm surprised it's not more streamlined. You shouldn't have to go through the hoop just to get a car loan. At Johnson Motors, we make it easy for you.

See also: go, hoop, through

hoops

slang

1. Various challenges one must face or overcome in pursuit of something, especially those that seem arbitrary or excessive. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to get a car loan. At Johnson Motors, we make it easy for you. The bank really makes you go through hoops to get a loan. The boss made me go through a lot of hoops to earn this corner office, believe me. I was doing everything from leading presentations to getting him coffee for months.

2. Basketball. Come on, man, it's a beautiful day—let's go down to the court and shoot some hoops. Everyone becomes a fan of college hoops during March Madness. The boys I babysit wanted to shoot some hoops, so we walked over to the playground.

See also: hoop

jump through hoops

To face or have to complete many challenges in pursuit of something that one wants, especially challenges that seem arbitrary or excessive. The boss made me jump through a lot of hoops to earn this corner office, believe me. I was doing everything from leading presentations to getting him coffee for months. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to get a car loan. At Johnson Motors, we make it easy for you.

See also: hoop, jump, through

jump through the hoop

To face or have to complete many challenges in pursuit of something that one wants, especially challenges that seem arbitrary or excessive. The boss made me jump through the hoop to earn this corner office, believe me. I was doing everything from leading presentations to getting him coffee for months. You shouldn't have to jump through the hoop just to get a car loan. At Johnson Motors, we make it easy for you.

See also: hoop, jump, through

put (one) through the hoop

To subject one to some ordeal, difficulty, trial, or punishment; to force one to undergo an unpleasant experience. My mother's recent bout with cancer has really put us through the hoop this year. I don't think Jake is a great fit for the military. His superiors are constantly putting him through the hoop for his disobedience.

See also: hoop, put, through

put (one) through the hoops

To force one to face, endure, or complete a challenge or series of challenges in pursuit of something. The boss really put me through the hoops to earn this corner office, believe me. I was doing everything from leading presentations to getting him coffee for months. The city puts all potential developers through the hoops before they're allowed to build.

See also: hoop, put, through

shoot (some) hoops

To play basketball, especially casually by simply shooting and not engaging in a game. I always meet up with a group of friends to shoot hoops every Wednesday evening. You want to hang out and shoot some hoops for a while?

See also: hoop, shoot

two whoops and a holler

1. An especially short distance. (That is, short enough for the sound of shouting to travel.) So, I think you're all set to start working. If you need anything, I'm only two whoops and a holler away! Thankfully, my apartment was two whoops and a holler from the college, so I didn't need a car to get to classes each day.

2. A small or trivial amount. Usually used after "worth." I've learned by now that his promises ain't worth two whoops and a holler. A: "Do you want to hold onto this book?" B: "Nah, that old thing isn't worth two whoops and a holler. You can toss it."

See also: and, holler, two, whoops

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

jump through a hoop

 and jump through hoops

Fig. to do everything possible to obey or please someone; to bend over backwards (to do something). (Trained circus animals jump through hoops.) She expects us to jump through hoops for her. What do you want me to do—jump through a hoop?

See also: hoop, jump, through

two (w)hoops and a holler

Rur. a short distance. Lexington? That's just two whoops and a holler from here. We're just two hoops and a holler from the downtown.

See also: and, holler, hoop, two

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

jump through hoops

Do just about anything to please someone. For example, The boss expects the entire staff to jump through hoops for him, or This violinist will jump through hoops for the conductor. This metaphoric expression alludes to trained circus animals jumping through hoops. [Early 1900s]

See also: hoop, jump, through

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

jump through hoops

or

go through hoops

If you have to jump through hoops or go through hoops to get or achieve something that you want, you have to do a lot of difficult things first. Eventually, if they jump through enough hoops, they can get work visas. He had to go through hoops to stop our games from being scheduled on a Sunday. Note: Circus animals are sometimes trained to jump through hoops which are hung or held above the ground and sometimes set on fire.

See also: hoop, jump, through

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

put someone (or go) through the hoops

make someone undergo (or be made to undergo) a difficult and gruelling test or series of tests.

1994 Legion The crew was as fast and efficient as any they had put through the hoops.

See also: hoop, put, someone, through

jump through hoops

be obliged to go through an elaborate or complicated procedure in order to achieve an objective.

2002 Guardian For the Going Underground single in 1980 , the producer made Weller jump through hoops to deliver a convincing vocal performance.

See also: hoop, jump, through

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

jump through ˈhoops

do something difficult or complicated in order to achieve something: How did you manage to get permission for this? Did you have to jump through hoops?

This refers to the circus, where animals are made to jump through a hoop (= a large ring of plastic, iron, etc.).

See also: hoop, jump, through

shoot ˈhoops

(American English, informal) play basketball: Hey Joe! Do you want to shoot some hoops?

See also: hoop, shoot

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

hoops

n. the game of basketball. Welcome to another evening of college hoops, brought to you by the Nova Motor Company.

See also: hoop

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

jump through hoops

To make extraordinary efforts, especially in following a prescribed procedure.

See also: hoop, jump, through

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.