red tape

noun

: official routine or procedure marked by excessive complexity which results in delay or inaction

bureaucratic red tape

… enterprisers that show how people across the Nation are coping (or not coping) with such problems as unemployment, the budget deficit and Government red tape.

—John Weisman

… pompous officials (often lowly clerks) in love with red tape who delight in obstructing the expedition of what should be simple procedures.

—Norman W. Schur

Initial plans became irretrievably mired in the red tape of building permissions.

—Bella Pollen

Their plan is simple enough and none too glamorous: create a Web site to help people cut through red tape; i.e., pay for parking tickets and so on.

—Sarah Kerr

Examples of red tape in a Sentence

You would not believe the red tape involved in getting the required permits.

Recent Examples on the Web

India’s tougher vetting of all Chinese investment after the clashes effectively turned away billions of dollars from the likes of carmakers BYD and Great Wall Motor, and added more red tape in Indian companies’ interactions with Chinese stakeholders. —Reuters, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024

In many jurisdictions, this also involves more medical appointments and red tape, without guarantees that a switch will be beneficial or also not face shortages. —New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2024

All red tape has been lifted and direct permits are being quickly approved on new debris management sites, and size and weight restrictions for vehicles conducting removal have been lifted. —Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024

However, in instances of statewide concern like housing affordability, the Legislature can step in to provide regulatory consistency across jurisdictions, provide certainty for homebuilders, and reduce the red tape and bureaucracy that can slow construction. —Ray Stern, The Arizona Republic, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from the red tape formerly used to bind legal documents in England

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

red tape

noun

: rules and regulations that waste people's time