red tape

American  

noun

1. excessive formality and routine required before official action can be taken.

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red tape British  

noun

1. obstructive official routine or procedure; time-consuming bureaucracy

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red tape ¹ Cultural  

1. Bureaucratic procedures that delay progress: “Paula had hoped to settle the inheritance quickly but got caught up in a lot of red tape.”

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red tape ² Cultural  

1. Administrative procedures, especially in a bureaucracy, that are marked by complexity and delay: “Red tape delayed his passport.”

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red tape Idioms  

1. Official forms and procedures, especially those that are complex and time-consuming. For example, There's so much red tape involved in approving our remodeling that we're tempted to postpone it indefinitely. This expression alludes to the former British custom of tying up official documents with red ribbon. [Early 1800s]

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Other Word Forms

• redtapism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of red tape

First recorded in 1730–40; after the red tape used to tie official documents

Example Sentences

Red tape means that popular metropolitan areas like Melbourne and Sydney are far less dense than comparably sized cities around the world.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025

Red tape is making it difficult for international aid workers to reach devastated areas.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 21, 2022

Red tape, staff shortages, testing delays and strong skepticism are keeping many patients and doctors from these drugs, which supply antibodies to help the immune system fight the coronavirus.

From Washington Times • Dec. 18, 2020

Red tape is considered to be anti-entrepreneurial, is considered to make us all uniform and kill initiative — all of that sort of stuff.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2019

Red tape those as likes it may drain; But whatever the lush, it a bumper must be, If we ne'er drinks a bumper again!

From Paul Clifford — Complete by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron

Related Words

• bureaucracy