Pasar por el aro

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Significa tragar con algo, es decir, que si quieres algo, tienes que hacer algo, que cuando una persona se ve obligada a realizar actos con los que no está de acuerdo, pero que debe hacer por exigencia de otra persona, para conseguir un determinado fin.
ENGLISH?

[poli]

In English it's to cross the Rubican, or to go to the point of no return.

[Tomisimo]

I'm not personally familiar with the term "pasar por el aro", but given Robin's definition, I'd say it's something close to "to suck it up". In other words-- to endure something unpleasant or do something you don't want to do because it is forced on you. (That is, if I'm understanding right).

[hermit]

I know the phrase as "to submit to something unwillingly". Of course,
once you've "crossed the Rubicon", you may well have to "do whatever it takes", like it or not...

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

I'm not personally familiar with the term "pasar por el aro", but given Robin's definition, I'd say it's something close to "to suck it up". In other words-- to endure something unpleasant or do something you don't want to do because it is forced on you. (That is, if I'm understanding right).

Originally Posted by hermit

I know the phrase as "to submit to something unwillingly". Of course,
once you've "crossed the Rubicon", you may well have to "do whatever it takes", like it or not...

Right.

[pjt33]

Si entiendo bien, se puede traducir bastante literalmente: to jump through hoops.

E.g. It should be easy to get a social security number, but they make you jump through several hoops before you can even get an appointment.

[hermit]

"Jump through hoops" ties right in...

[Tomisimo]

When you use the term "to jump through hoops", I definitely think of government bureaucracy.

[JPablo]

I agree with the above posts. I include some more data, to further 'delimit' the meaning, as well as my subjective opinion.
Moliner gives this definition,
Pasar por el aro. Aceptar, a pesar de la repugnancia que se siente hacia ella, cierta cosa. Ceder, someterse.

I think Oxford Superlex gives the best translations,
pasar or entrar por el aro (en el circo) to jump through the hoop; (someterse) to toe the line (or the mark)

toe the line or mark,
a. to conform strictly to a rule, command, etc.
b. to shoulder responsibilities; do one's duty: He tried hard to toe the line on the new job.

Missing in the "toe the line" expression is the feeling of 'repugnance' or 'abhorrence'/'revulsion' that is clearly implied in the Spanish idiom, yet it seems to be close enough.

Other options that would be conceptually correct,
Yield to [the authority]
bow to [the whims/the bureaucracy/rules/etc.]
reluctantly submit to...
unwillingly comply with...
give in to...

I remember my Dad using the expression when I was a kid. Those days (70s) Franco, the dictator, was still alive and kicking, and so was still making people 'toe the line', 'la gente tiene que pasar por el aro y hacer lo que se les dice'... Although, similar expression from the days of Franquism, was "Estas son lentejas, si quieres las comes y si no las dejas". While the expression "These are lentils, if you want them you eat them, if you don't you let them alone" seems to grant 'free will' in choosing between the two options, in the practical side of things, it comes to mean, "you have to toe the line... or else... die of hunger" (or ostracism).

Anyhow, I hope this data and opinion is helpful for everybody, and these are 'my two euros', (or rather 'mis dos duros' or 'mis dos céntimos' on the matter.) Of course, if I said something off the mark and/or I unwittingly , then, please, don't hesitate correcting me... but, of course... [¡faltaría más!]

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Pasar por el aro significa hacer algo que no queremos hacer pero para conseguir algo, tenemos que hacerlo porque no nos queda más remedio.
English?

[Perikles]

Believe it or not, in English: to jump through the hoop(s)

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Nooooooooo !

[Perikles]

Síííííííííííííííííííííííí

[pjt33]

¿No preguntaste la misma pregunta hace algunos meses?

[ROBINDESBOIS]

No recuerdo, no la tengo en mis archivos, y suelo regristrarlas todas.

[pjt33]

He encontrado el hilo: http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=8424

[ROBINDESBOIS]

You´re right, I don´t have it in my files. Anyway what is to cross the rubicon? First time I have heard it.

[pjt33]

Hacer una decisión gorda que no se puede deshacer. Viene de cuando Julio César entró cruzó el río Rubicón, que era la frontera entre Gallia y Italia con su ejército, lo cual significaba declarar una guerra civil.

[chileno]

En Chile pasar por el aro means to make you skip your turn/fool you.

[poli]

Another term related to to cross the Rubican is to reach the point of no return.

Another term related to to go through hoops is to go though hell and
high water.