red tape
Paperwork slowing progress
Red tape is excessive bureaucracy—the forms, procedures, and official requirements that slow down or obstruct action.
The term evokes frustration with administrative obstacles: We wanted to open the business quickly, but there was so much red tape.
Originally from the reddish tape used to bind legal documents.
Administrative written tasks
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- proceduresSet methods for tasks
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
forms · permits · authorizations · filings · registrations · approvals · officialdom · administration
Enforced waiting period
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
logjam · gridlock · roadblock · stumbling block · snag · complication · quagmire · mire
paperwork
Administrative written tasks
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- proceduresSet methods for tasks
documentation · forms · permits · authorizations · filings · registrations · approvals · officialdom · administration · governmental
delay
Enforced waiting period
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
bottleneck · logjam · gridlock · roadblock · stumbling block · snag · complication · quagmire · mire · morass
- boring methodspaperwork, data entry, filing, form filling, busywork
- Government Reformbudget reform, fiscal reform, government reform, policy reform, regulatory reform
- obstructionobstruction, delay, roadblock, blockade, barricade
- Officialesehereby, heretofore, hereunto, whereas, aforementioned
- bureaucracybureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucrats, civil service, civil servant
- bureaucratic toolsforms, stamps, rubber stamp, clipboard, filing cabinet
red tapestreamlined process
Simplified, faster method
efficiency · simplicity · fast-track · expediency · fast-tracking
red tapeprogress
Movement toward improvement
action · momentum · productivity · getting things done · agility
red tapederegulation
Removing governmental business restrictions
laissez-faire · flexibility · discretion · common sense · pragmatism
tape, taper, taped, tapes, taping, tapestry, tapered, tapering, duct tape