What does red tape mean?
Definitions for red tape
red tape
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word red tape.
Princeton's WordNet
bureaucratic procedure, red tapenoun
needlessly time-consuming procedure
Wiktionary
red tapenoun
A derisive term for regulations or bureaucratic procedures that are considered excessive or excessively time- and effort-consuming.
Etymology: * Thought to allude to the former practice of binding government documents in red-coloured tape
Wikipedia
Red tape
Red tape is an idiom referring to regulations or conformity to formal rules or standards which are claimed to be excessive, rigid or redundant, or to bureaucracy claimed to hinder or prevent action or decision-making. It is usually applied to governments, corporations, and other large organizations. Things often described as "red tape" include filling out paperwork, obtaining licenses, having multiple people or committees approve a decision and various low-level rules that make conducting one's affairs slower, more difficult, or both.
Wikidata
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making. It is usually applied to governments, corporations, and other large organizations. One definition is the "collection or sequence of forms and procedures required to gain bureaucratic approval for something, especially when oppressively complex and time-consuming". Another definition is the "bureaucratic practice of hair splitting or foot dragging, blamed by its practitioners on the system that forces them to follow prescribed procedures to the letter". Red tape generally includes filling out paperwork, obtaining licenses, having multiple people or committees approve a decision and various low-level rules that make conducting one's affairs slower, more difficult, or both. Red tape can also include "filing and certification requirements, reporting, investigation, inspection and enforcement practices, and procedures".
Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
red tape
The tape used in public offices for tying up documents, etc.; hence, official formality.
Suggested Resources
red tape
Song lyrics by red tape -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by red tape on the Lyrics.com website.
Etymology and Origins
Red Tape
That leisurely officialism which refers a matter from one department to another, until at length the highest authority is reached to take it in hand. The term has been derived from the red tape with which all legal and official documents are tied together.
Matched Categories
Anagrams for red tape »
predate
retaped
tapered
adepter
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of red tape in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of red tape in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of red tape in a Sentence
Spanish and Morocco growers have also decided to sell to Europe instead to avoid the costs of a four-day road trip to Britain, additional fuels costs, customs fees, red tape and queues at the border.
So many have fallen through the system -- have no birth certificates, no ID's, no drivers' licenses and to try and get it ... they get swallowed by red tape, they have no ID's so they can't go through TSA.
Studio red tape, just getting them to give it the green light.
I worked with President Trump for VA reform. He cut red tape for our veterans and their families. I think everyone can be happy about that, i commend President Trump and his policy and his efforts.
What is needed is compassion and care, not red tape and obstacles, the health implications for failing to treat and care for these women and their children can be profound and, indeed, fatal.
References
Translations for red tape
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
Get even more translations for red tape »
Translation
Find a translation for the red tape definition in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"red tape." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/red+tape>.
Discuss these red tape definitions with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In