hoop jumper

English

Alternative forms

• hoop-jumper

Etymology

From the idiom jump through hoops

Noun

hoop jumper (plural hoop jumpers)

1. One who jumps through hoops.
   • 2004 April, Annasue McCleave Wilson, “The Man on the Porch”, in Cincinnati Magazine, volume 37, number 7, page 69:

     Time and time again he claims he has been offered help — but only if he will jump through some hoops. You know, the social contract. But Marvin is not a hoop jumper.

   • 2010, Mark Atteberry, Let it Go: Come Home from Your Guilt Trip:

     Here's what I always try to remember when I'm tempted to start jumping through hoops to make others happy: Jesus wasn't a hoop jumper. He did what he did and left it up to people to take him or leave him.

   • 2017, Dr. Jack Burrow, Buffett, Munger Marathon Investing: Passion Investing:

     Throughout life there are things we do not want to do, but we do them to get to our objective; we jump through the hoop, and have to work like worker bees. This book is specifically written to get the hoop jumpers and worker bees on their way to managing and taking control of their financial futures.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see jump,‎ through,‎ hoops.
   • 2022, Brian Stewart, Journey to Patmos. Donkey Ollie:

     " We can use it to start the circus! We'll do it! I'm pretty good with a knife and a sling shot! And I bet Allondra would do horseback riding! ” “ I wanna be a hoop jumper!"