red tape

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noun

: a series of actions or complicated tasks that seem unnecessary but that a government or organization requires you to do in order to get or do something

Full Definition of RED TAPE

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

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Examples of RED TAPE

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

Origin of RED TAPE

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

First Known Use: 1736

Rhymes with RED TAPE

broomrape, cloudscape, date rape, escape, fox grape, gang rape, great ape, landscape, man ape, moonscape, North Cape, reshape, sea grape, seascape, shipshape, snowscape, streetscape, take shape, townscape, transshape, undrape, waveshape