Learning English

Inspiring language learning since 1943

Introduction

Trying to achieve something can be challenging or difficult and the effort involved might be unnecessary. Hopefully, learning a phrase to describe this situation is easy. Learn more about it in this programme.

Transcript

Jiaying
Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Jiaying…

Rob
…and I'm Rob. In this programme, we have an expression to use when we want to say something is difficult to achieve - because there are things preventing us from reaching our goal. The expression is 'jump through hoops'.

Jiaying
'Jump through hoops'. It's metaphorical language. We wouldn't actually jump through a hoop to achieve something, would we?

Rob
No, we wouldn't. But imagine if we actually did have to jump through hoops – that would be very difficult. And that’s the sense of this expression. What we mean is you have to do something difficult to get to the result you want. Furthermore, the effort involved is often unnecessary – the process is just made more complicated.

Jiaying
Right. So, you mean there's really no need to jump through the hoops to achieve the end result. A bit like trying to get a refund for my airline ticket – I had to talk to so many departments before I got through to the right person.

Rob
It can be frustrating, Jiaying. I had to jump through hoops trying to get a loan from the bank – there were forms to fill in, paperwork to find, appointments to attend.

Jiaying
Well, we’re not alone. Listen to these people who had to 'jump through hoops'…

Examples
I had to jump through hoops to get the shop to fix my new laptop. They claimed I had broken it!

I really want to buy a new car, but I’ve got to jump through hoops to get a loan from the bank.

He had to jump through hoops to get you a ticket for the match, so I hope you appreciate it.

Jiaying
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we're looking at the expression 'jump through hoops', which means to have to do lots of difficult and sometimes unnecessary things to achieve something.

Rob
Yes, it can be challenging and frustrating – like you trying to get a refund for your airline ticket. Did you succeed?

Jiaying
I did, Rob. I jumped through lots of hoops but got the result I wanted. How about you – did you get your loan?

Rob
Sadly not - despite jumping through lots of hoops! But hold on, now you've got your money back from the airline, maybe you could lend me some money?!

Jiaying
Well, Rob, you'll have to jump through more hoops to get my money – the first one is to make me a cup of tea!

Rob
OK, bye for now.

Jiaying
Bye.

Latest The English We Speak

Light up like a Christmas tree
Episode 231226 / 26 Dec 2023
An expression to describe your happy face
I don't buy it
Episode 231219 / 18 Dec 2023
Learn an informal way of saying 'I don't believe you'
Touch grass
Episode 231211 / 11 Dec 2023
Do you know anyone who needs to touch grass?
I'm out
Episode 231204 / 04 Dec 2023
A phrase about not having anything left
Plan B
Episode 231127 / 27 Nov 2023
A phrase for when you need another option
Sound out
Episode 231120 / 20 Nov 2023
When do you think it's important to sound someone out?
Fly by night
Episode 231113 / 13 Nov 2023
What do you call a business that disappears overnight and leaves you with a lot of problems?
One-up
Episode 231106 / 06 Nov 2023
A phrase about showing off
Tread on someone's toes
Episode 231030 / 30 Oct 2023
An expression all about doing something you're not responsible for.
Mental gymnastics
Episode 231024 / 23 Oct 2023
How do we talk about complicated tasks done by your brain?
Call dibs
Episode 231017 / 16 Oct 2023
When did you last call dibs on something?
Run for the hills
Episode 231010 / 10 Oct 2023
A phrase about avoiding something
Hard at it
Episode 231003 / 02 Oct 2023
A phrase about working hard
Each to their own
Episode 230925 / 25 Sep 2023
Who do you know who does things differently?
Fill your boots
Episode 230919 / 18 Sep 2023
When did you last fill your boots?
Join the club
Episode 230911 / 11 Sep 2023
Expressing your bad situation
Go with the flow
Episode 230904 / 04 Sep 2023
The easy option!
Cakeism
Episode 230828 / 28 Aug 2023
Is there any cake in this phrase?
Drip feed
Episode 230821 / 21 Aug 2023
How to use ‘drip feed’
Scatterbrain
Episode 230814 / 14 Aug 2023
Are you a scatterbrain?
Be in with a shout
Episode 230807 / 07 Aug 2023
A phrase about possibility!
On point
Episode 230731 / 31 Jul 2023
A phrase about being perfect
Kiss something goodbye
Episode 230724 / 24 Jul 2023
A phrase about accepting loss.
Productivity theatre
Episode 230717 / 17 Jul 2023
A phrase about pretending to work
Pet hate
Episode 230710 / 10 Jul 2023
How to describe your annoyance
On the table
Episode 230703 / 03 Jul 2023
A phrase for business.
Jump through hoops
Episode 230627 / 26 Jun 2023
Not everything is easy to achieve.
Famous last words
Episode 230612 / 12 Jun 2023
A phrase about telling someone they'll be wrong.
Hard pass
Episode 230605 / 02 Jun 2023
A phrase about saying 'no'
Level up
Episode 230529 / 29 May 2023
A phrase about making things equal
Get with the programme
Episode 230522 / 22 May 2023
A changing phrase
Shout-out
Episode 230515 / 15 May 2023
A praising phrase
Fitspiration
Episode 230508 / 08 May 2023
Get fit with this new word
Hats off
Episode 230501 / 01 May 2023
A phrase about impressing people
Under your breath
Episode 230424 / 24 Apr 2023
Make sure you're heard with this expression.
Be at a loss
Episode 230417 / 17 Apr 2023
Don't be at a loss with this expression!
Go off on one
Episode 230410 / 10 Apr 2023
An phrase about getting angry
Wiggle room
Episode 230403 / 03 Apr 2023
A phrase for negotiating
(It's the) story of my life
Episode 230327 / 27 Jan 2023
A phrase about bad luck
No ifs or buts
Episode 230320 / 20 Mar 2023
A phrase to say that something has to be done
Caught red-handed
Episode 230313 / 23 Mar 2023
Have you ever been caught doing something bad?
Rabbit on
Episode 230306 / 06 Mar 2023
A phrase about talking too much
Thanks a bunch
Episode 230227 / 27 Feb 2023
Saying thanks but you don't mean it!
Slow walk
Episode 230220 / 13 Jan 2023
Learn a slow phrase
Take something to heart
Episode 230213 / 13 Jan 2023
A sensitive phrase
Know the score
Episode 230206 / 06 Feb 2023
A phrase about understanding the situation
Jog your memory
Episode 230130 / 30 Jan 2023
A phrase about remembering
A flying start
Episode 230123 / 23 Jan 2023
A phrase about an amazing start
Steal someone's thunder
Episode 230116 / 16 Jan 2023
Give this phrase some attention
Call it a day
Episode 230109 / 09 Jan 2023
A phrase about doing enough
It happens to the best of us
Episode 200619 / 19 Jun 2023
A phrase about making people feel better.