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

Once a victim crosses a jurisdictional line, everything that happened on the other side of it too often gets lost in the nowhere land of bureaucracy and red tape.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

“There’s no bureaucracy. I see you. You need this. Can I do it or not? I can, let’s take care of it. All the red tape is gone.”

From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026

The government hopes to replicate that elsewhere, with a music plan that aims to provide mentoring for artists and promoters, as well as cutting red tape for music festivals and small venues.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Falling numbers of workers spell yet another challenge for Europe's struggling top economy, already battling onerous red tape, high energy costs and fierce competition in its traditional industries.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

He had even tried to help her with the mountain of paperwork and red tape that had been dumped on them in order to get survivor benefits from the trucking company.

From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Related Words

• bureaucracy