rigmarole
noun /ˈrɪɡmərəʊl/
/ˈrɪɡmərəʊl/
(North American English also rigamarole
[uncountable, singular] /ˈrɪɡəmərəʊl/
/ˈrɪɡəmərəʊl/
)- a long and complicated process that is annoying and seems unnecessary
（不必要的）冗长复杂的手续 - I couldn't face the whole rigmarole of getting a work permit again.
我无法再次面对获取工作许可证所需的各种冗长复杂的手续。
- I couldn't face the whole rigmarole of getting a work permit again.
- a long and complicated story
冗长曲折的故事 - She turned up an hour late with some rigmarole about catching the wrong train.
她迟到了一个小时，还说了些关于赶错火车的废话。
- She turned up an hour late with some rigmarole about catching the wrong train.
词源mid 18th cent.: apparently an alteration of ragman roll, originally denoting a legal document recording a list of offences.