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
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
Norman W. SchurInitial plans became irretrievably mired in the red tape of building permissions.—Bella Pollen
Bella PollenTheir 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
Sarah KerrExamples of red tape in a Sentence
You would not believe the red tape involved in getting the required permits.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cochise County farmers must deal with red tape to secure groundwater rights.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
People who wanted to quit opioids told of frustrating red tape and humiliating rules.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
That might translate to longer wait times for appointments, bureaucratic red tape or difficulty getting referrals and access to specialists, and more.
—Pamela Appea, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024
Farmers were demanding the reversal of some of the most progressive measures in the world to counter climate change and protect biodiversity, arguing that the rules were harming their livelihoods and strangling them with red tape.
—Raf Casert, Quartz, 25 Feb. 2024
The county has a reputation for being slow to hire, and the emergency powers granted department heads authority to cut through red tape in hiring, Todoroff said.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024
Oregon last year passed a bill opening the door for micro-apartments and Washington state lawmakers this year did the same, starting to clear red tape that for years has limited construction of the tiny units, which are about a third the size of an average studio apartment.
—Hallie Golden, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024
By cutting red tape, building would be easier and increase the housing supply, supporters said.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
On both coasts, candidates for licenses have faced far too much red tape; at the same time, the legalization of weed, which added taxes and jacked up the price per ounce, gave a shot in the arm to the illicit economy, which offers lower prices.
—The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
People who wanted to quit opioids told of frustrating red tape and humiliating rules.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
That might translate to longer wait times for appointments, bureaucratic red tape or difficulty getting referrals and access to specialists, and more.
—Pamela Appea, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024
Farmers were demanding the reversal of some of the most progressive measures in the world to counter climate change and protect biodiversity, arguing that the rules were harming their livelihoods and strangling them with red tape.
—Raf Casert, Quartz, 25 Feb. 2024
The county has a reputation for being slow to hire, and the emergency powers granted department heads authority to cut through red tape in hiring, Todoroff said.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024
Oregon last year passed a bill opening the door for micro-apartments and Washington state lawmakers this year did the same, starting to clear red tape that for years has limited construction of the tiny units, which are about a third the size of an average studio apartment.
—Hallie Golden, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024
By cutting red tape, building would be easier and increase the housing supply, supporters said.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
On both coasts, candidates for licenses have faced far too much red tape; at the same time, the legalization of weed, which added taxes and jacked up the price per ounce, gave a shot in the arm to the illicit economy, which offers lower prices.
—The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'red tape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Red tape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20tape. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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