From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishred tapeˌred ˈtape noun [uncountable] PGOCOMPLICATEDofficial rules that seem unnecessary and prevent things from being done quickly and easily → bureaucracy a procedure surrounded by bureaucracy and red tape The new rules should help cut the red tape for farmers.
Examples from the Corpus
red tape• All the bureaucratic disclosures and red tape in the country can not offset either.• There are regulations, laws and red tape.• But red tape is not the only or even the main problem.• It talks about only another layer of government and more red tape and state control, not less.• Richard Pombo, R-Calif., who sponsored the guest worker amendment, said the current program involves too much red tape.• Many blame Britain's decline on too much red tape.• Former rally driver Jean Denton is battling to reduce red tape and bureaucratic burdens on small firms and start-ups.• U.S. companies fear the red tape will scare off customers.• What annoyed me most was the red tape.From Longman Business Dictionaryred tapeˌred ˈtape noun [uncountable] official rules that seem complicated and unnecessary and prevent things from being done quickly and easilyThe only way to get this project off the ground is to cut through the red tape.Planning permission is tied up in red tape. 