See Also: tape(medicine)
Tape(finance)
Tape(money)
Red Tape(money)
red tape(dictionary)
On the tape(money)
tape(dictionary)
On the tape(finance)
name-tape(dictionary)
red tape(dictionary)

red tape (iou)



red tape noun phr. E18.
[from RED adjective + TAPE noun.]
Tape of a red colour such as is commonly used to secure legal and official documents; transf. excessive bureaucracy or adherence to formalities, esp. in public business.
A. Wilson Museum fellows..as much bureaucrats as..scholarstied up by a lot of red tape.
red-taped adjective tied with red tape; affected or restricted by red-tapism M19.
red-tapery noun red-tapism M19.
red-tapey adjective red-tapish E20.
red-tapish adjective characterized or affected by red-tapism M19.
red-tapism noun the spirit or system of excessive adherence to bureaucratic formalities M19.
red-tapist noun a person who adheres strictly or mechanically to bureaucratic formalities M19.
red-tapy adjective red-tapish L19.