jump through a 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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in classic literature ?
To explain to Stepan Arkadyevitch the state of excitement in which he found himself, he said that he was happy like a dog being trained to jump through a hoop, who, having at last caught the idea, and done what was required of him, whines and wags its tail, and jumps up to the table and the windows in its delight.
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