red tape
noun/ˌred ˈteɪp/
/ˌred ˈteɪp/
[uncountable] (disapproving)- official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly
- All ministers are agreed on the need to cut bureaucratic red tape.
- You have to go through endless red tape to get a residence permit.
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsc2- He says he was almost put out of business by Government red tape.
- Plans may take longer and involve more red tape than you expect.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- administrative
- bureaucratic
- government
- …
- cut
- reduce
- be entangled in
- …
Word Originearly 18th cent.: so named because of the red or pink tape used to bind official documents.
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red tape