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

His crusade to cut red tape and ease zoning rules has pitted him against environmentalists and Nimby activists while winning praise from developers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ivanov said Russian contractors stand apart because they do not rely "on an abundance of heavy machinery and bureaucratic red tape, as is customary among American military specialists".

From Barron's

The parent of the Twitter-like platform went public last year through a special-purpose acquisition company, avoiding some of the red tape of a traditional initial public offering.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bass has defended her handling of that work, pointing to an accelerated debris removal process and her own emergency orders cutting red tape for rebuilding projects.

From Los Angeles Times

The government has said that its various trade agreements struck this year will grow the British economy by creating jobs and cutting red tape for small businesses.

From BBC

Related Words

• bureaucracy