red tapeˌred ˈtape noun [uncountable] 
a procedure surrounded by bureaucracy and red tape The new rules should help cut the red tape for farmers.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- U.S. companies fear the red tape will scare off customers.
- All the bureaucratic disclosures and red tape in the country can not offset either.
- But red tape is not the only or even the main problem.
- Former rally driver Jean Denton is battling to reduce red tape and bureaucratic burdens on small firms and start-ups.
- It talks about only another layer of government and more red tape and state control, not less.
- Many blame Britain's decline on too much red tape.
- Richard Pombo, R-Calif., who sponsored the guest worker amendment, said the current program involves too much red tape.
- There are regulations, laws and red tape.
- What annoyed me most was the red tape.
Longman Language Activatora complicated official system
a complicated, official system in which there are a lot of rules and processes that you have to complete, especially one that employs a lot of people: · The EU bureaucracy in Brussels has grown in size and authority.· We need less bureaucracy in the school system - teachers should be allowed to make more decisions.
involving a lot of complicated official rules and processes: · The procedure for getting funding approval is so bureaucratic!bureaucratic nightmare (=official system that is extremely complicated and annoying): · Trying to enforce the law regulating the length of passenger buses has been a bureaucratic nightmare.
complicated and annoying official rules that you have to obey before you can do or have something: · There's so much red tape involved in getting a work permit.cut through red tape (=avoid it): · There must be a way to cut through all this red tape.
WORD SETSaccession, nounaccredited, adjectiveaide, nounambassador, nounapparatchik, nounarchduke, nounassemblyman, nounassemblywoman, nounattaché, nounbadge, nounborough council, nouncaliph, nounchamberlain, nounchancellery, nounchancellor, nounChancellor of the Exchequer, nounchieftain, nouncity fathers, nouncity planning, nouncivil servant, nounclerk, nounclerk of works, nounCllr, commissioner, nouncomptroller, nouncongressman, nouncongresswoman, nounconsul, nounconsulate, nouncoroner, nouncouncillor, nouncouncilman, nouncouncilwoman, nouncourtier, nouncrown, nouncrown, verbcrowned head, nounCrown Prince, nounCrown Princess, nounCustoms and Excise, noun-cy, suffixczar, nounczarina, noundeputy, noundictator, noundignitary, noundiplomat, noundiplomatic, adjectivediplomatic corps, noundiplomatic immunity, noundispatch box, noundispensation, noun-dom, suffixdossier, noundrug czar, nounducal, adjectiveduchess, nounduchy, nounduke, noundukedom, nounelder statesman, nounembassy, nounemirate, nounemissary, nounemperor, nounempress, nounEurocrat, nounfigurehead, nounForeign Office, the, governor, nounGovernor-General, noungovernorship, noungubernatorial, adjectivehack, nounHome Secretary, nounimpeach, verbinaugurate, verbincumbency, nounincumbent, nounkhalif, nounkhan, nounlegate, nounlegation, nounlegislator, nounlocal council, nounlord, nounLord, nounmandarin, nounmarshal, nounmayor, nounmayoralty, nounmayoress, nounmember, nounMember of Parliament, nounMEP, nounMI5, nounMI6, nounminister, nounministerial, adjectiveminister of state, nounmission, nounmole, nounmonarch, nounmonitor, nounmotorcade, nounMP, nounNo. 10, occupy, verb-ocrat, suffixoffice, nounoffice holder, nounofficer, nounofficial, nounofficial, adjectiveofficialdom, nounofficialese, nounoverlord, nounpalace, nounpatriarchal, adjectivepatrician, adjectivePharaoh, nounplenipotentiary, nounPM, nounpost, verbposting, nounpotentate, nounPPS, nounprefect, nounpremier, nounpres., presidency, nounpresident, nounpresident-elect, nounpresidential, adjectivepress secretary, nounpretender, nounPrime Minister, nounprince, nounprince consort, nounprincess, nounproconsul, nounproconsulate, nounProvost, nounpublic servant, nounquango, nounqueen, nounqueenly, adjectiveQueen Mother, nounrajah, nounred tape, nounreeve, nounreign, nounreign, verbreshuffle, nounroyal, adjectiveroyal, nounroyalty, nounruler, nounsecretary, nounsenator, nounShah, nounsheriff, nounshogun, nounsovereign, nounsoviet, nounstatesman, nounsuccession, nounsultan, nounsultana, nountechnocrat, nountown clerk, nountown council, nountribune, nountriumvirate, nountroika, nountsar, nountsarina, nountzar, nountzarina, nounundersecretary, nounvice-president, nounviceroy, nounvizier, nounVP, nounwalkabout, nounwatchdog, nounwhip, nounWhite House, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The new rules should help cut the red tape for farmers.
official rules that seem unnecessary and prevent things from being done quickly and easily: The new rules should help cut the red tape for farmers. a procedure surrounded by bureaucracy and red tape The new rules should help cut the red tape for farmers.