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red tape |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.01 sec. |
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red tape Fig. over-strict attention to the wording and details of rules and regulations, especially by government workers. (From the color of the tape used by government departments in England to tie up bundles of documents.) Because of red tape, Frank took weeks to get a visa. Red tape prevented Jack's wife from joining him abroad. red tape official rules which do not seem necessary and make things happen very slowly My passport application has been held up by red tape. See be on full alert, go beet red, go beetroot, roll out the red carpet, see redHow to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Having disposed of this temperate refreshment, she arose from her stool, tied her papers into a formal packet with red tape, and taking them under her arm, marched out of the office. asked Laurie soberly, as Amy laid a bit of red tape, with sealing wax, a taper, and a standish before him. If I had waited for the governor to let her know in the usual course of red tape we should never have got anywhere. |
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