red tape

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“The visa took months because of red tape.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

better late than never Neutral · CEFR A2

Doing something after a delay is better than not doing it at all.

hang on a minute Informal · CEFR A2

used to ask someone to wait, or to express surprise or objection

fall in line Neutral · CEFR B1

to obey or accept the rules and expectations set by a group or authority

golden rule Neutral · CEFR B1

the most important rule or principle to follow

out of the question Neutral · CEFR B1

completely impossible or not permitted

sign on the dotted line Neutral · CEFR B1

to commit yourself formally by signing an agreement

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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