Red tape

Idiom of the Day "red tape" -Meaning: Strict adherence to rules and regulations so that a procedure seems to take longer than necessary. For example: 1. It takes a long time to set up a company in some countries because of all the red tape involved in getting government permits. 2. It took two weeks to get visas for our aid workers because of all the red tape. Origin: Probably related to the fact that bundles of official government documents are often tied together with red tape. "Value that arrives in an instant is probably going to be gone in an instant. Value that takes time and commitment to create will enrich your life far into the future."