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.
所有部长都同意有必要削减官僚主义的繁文缛节。 - You have to go through endless red tape to get a residence permit.
你必须通过没完没了的繁文缛节才能获得居留证。
Topics Politicsc2- He says he was almost put out of business by Government red tape.
他说政府的繁文缛节几乎让他破产。 - 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。
Collocations Dictionaryadjective- administrative
- bureaucratic
- government
- …
- cut
- reduce
- be entangled in
- …
词源early 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.