red tape
excessive rules
TRANSLATION
red tape = die Bürokratie, der Formularkram --- GOOGLE INDEX red tape: approximately 3,000,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Britons burdened by RED TAPE
(BBC - News Headline)
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Nissan is lobbying cities to cut RED TAPE that delays installation of home-charging stations for electric cars.
(Wall Street Journal)
(BBC - News Headline)
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Nissan is lobbying cities to cut RED TAPE that delays installation of home-charging stations for electric cars.
(Wall Street Journal)
Did you
know?
red tape
noun
- official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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God gets red taped
In the beginning God created heaven and the earth, but he was quickly sued for failing to submit an environmental impact report. He was given temporary permission for the project, but was then delayed by an order to stop the earthly part. At the commission hearing, God was asked why he began the earth project in the first place. God said, "I just like being creative."
God then said, "Let there be light." The officials demanded to know how the light would be made and if it would affect any species of animals? God said, "The light will come from a big ball of fire. And by the way, the animals don't get created until after the light."
Feeling that God was being a little cheeky, the officials then said he could go ahead with the light as long as he agreed to keep if off half the time in order to save energy. God agreed and said he would call the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." One of the officials brusquely said, "We don't care what you call it."
God then said, "Let the earth bring forth green herb and such as many seed." The officials pointed out that under no circumstances could he use gene-modified seed.
Frustrated but not ready to give up, God said, "Let waters bring forth creeping creatures having life; and the fowl that may fly over the earth." The officials told him that he would first have to prove that all of the animals are free of BSE. When God pointed out that BSE only affected cows, the officials told him to sit down and be quiet.
God then said he wanted to complete the project in six days and then take a day off. The officials informed him it would take at least three months to review the application. After that, there would be a public hearing provided Adam and Eve could find the time to attend. At this point, God created hell.
Origin: Stems from the red tape formerly used to bind government documents.
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SYNONYMS
bureaucracy, the government, administration, the system, the authorities, officialdom
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Be prepared for a lot of red tape if you want to get an export license."
noun
- official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
God gets red taped
In the beginning God created heaven and the earth, but he was quickly sued for failing to submit an environmental impact report. He was given temporary permission for the project, but was then delayed by an order to stop the earthly part. At the commission hearing, God was asked why he began the earth project in the first place. God said, "I just like being creative."
God then said, "Let there be light." The officials demanded to know how the light would be made and if it would affect any species of animals? God said, "The light will come from a big ball of fire. And by the way, the animals don't get created until after the light."
Feeling that God was being a little cheeky, the officials then said he could go ahead with the light as long as he agreed to keep if off half the time in order to save energy. God agreed and said he would call the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." One of the officials brusquely said, "We don't care what you call it."
God then said, "Let the earth bring forth green herb and such as many seed." The officials pointed out that under no circumstances could he use gene-modified seed.
Frustrated but not ready to give up, God said, "Let waters bring forth creeping creatures having life; and the fowl that may fly over the earth." The officials told him that he would first have to prove that all of the animals are free of BSE. When God pointed out that BSE only affected cows, the officials told him to sit down and be quiet.
God then said he wanted to complete the project in six days and then take a day off. The officials informed him it would take at least three months to review the application. After that, there would be a public hearing provided Adam and Eve could find the time to attend. At this point, God created hell.
Origin: Stems from the red tape formerly used to bind government documents.
---
SYNONYMS
bureaucracy, the government, administration, the system, the authorities, officialdom
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Be prepared for a lot of red tape if you want to get an export license."
