jump through hoops

Reminiscent of a circus animal performing tricks by jumping through hoops.

• "They really made the salesman jump through hoops before buying anything."
• "If learning is deemed valuable and important to the student, then the educator doesn't need a scripted curriculum or a fad initiative that has students and the educator jumping through hoops."
• "If a government says to citizens, “We will punish you for abstaining, unless you jump through the following legal hoops,” it is still coercing citizens."
• "Caregivers also described having to “jump through hoops” to accomplish what they needed."

• bend over backwards