hoop (redirected from hoops)

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: 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, two

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go/jump through hoops

to do a lot of difficult things before you are allowed to have or do something you want They really make you jump through hoops before they allow you to adopt a baby.

See also: through

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jump through hoops

to do a lot of extra things so you can have or do something you want The company is jumping through hoops these days to try to please advertisers.

See also: jump, through

shoot hoops

to play the game of basketball Sometimes we stopped off at the gym after school and shot some hoops.

Etymology: based on the basketball meaning of hoop (a high metal ring through which a ball is thrown to score points)

See also: shoot