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

See Examples For:

red tape

But for now that transformation is complicated by red tape and the high costs of upgrading railway infrastructure.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

In a report, the analyst says that while the country has long been viewed as an attractive jurisdiction for LNG development, red tape and restrictive environmental policies were limiting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Paoletta viewed the definition as adding new rules when the administration’s goal is to cut red tape, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

But they said if governments wanted "world-class, reliable mobile connectivity" then planning systems needed to be "modernised", adding that "cutting this red tape is vital if operators are to deploy new sites".

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

I can't remember ever in my life seeing red tape.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Related Words

• bureaucracy