red tape
noun/ˌred ˈteɪp/
/ˌred ˈteɪp/
[uncountable] (disapproving)- official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly
繁文缛节；官僚作风 - All ministers are agreed on the need to cut bureaucratic red tape.
所有部长都同意需要减少官僚主义的繁文缛节。 - You have to go through endless red tape to get a residence permit.
您必须经历无休无止的繁文缛节才能获得居留许可。
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsc2- He says he was almost put out of business by Government red tape.
他说，政府的繁文缛节差点让他破产。 - Plans may take longer and involve more red tape than you expect.
计划实施起来也许比预料中花更长时间，手续更繁杂。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- administrative
- bureaucratic
- government
- …
- cut
- reduce
- be entangled in
- …
Word Originearly 18th cent.: so named because of the red or pink tape used to bind official documents. - All ministers are agreed on the need to cut bureaucratic red tape.