Le parcours du combattant

Meaning: A gruelling series of obstacles.

Literally: The combatant's course

Example: “Obtenir un visa de travail est un vrai parcours du combattant.” — Getting a work visa means jumping through endless hoops.

English equivalent: To jump through hoops

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: The military assault course, with its walls, ropes and ditches. It is applied to bureaucracy far more often than to anything physical.

Ce n'est pas le Pérou It is not a fortune; it is nothing to get excited about.
Un pétard mouillé A revelation that was supposed to explode and did not.
Peu ou prou More or less; to some degree.
Y a pas photo It's not even close; there is no question about it.
Ne tirez pas sur le pianiste Do not blame the person who is only doing their best with what they were given.
Qui va piano va sano Slow and steady is the surer way.

Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.

Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
Un beau ver vert dans un verre vert verra un ver vert. Ver (worm), vert (green), and verre (glass) are near-homophones — distinguishing them at…

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