Idiom – Red Tape

Red Tape – Idiom of the Day

Meaning:

Formal ruleset which seems tedious to be followed.

History:

History dates back to the 16th century. Henry VIII sent  80 petitions to Pope Clement VII requesting permission to declare his marriage with Catherine of Aragon as invalid. Every petition was sealed in a red tape, which was the norm then. Later, people in America found it difficult to access the red tapes which led to the term being used negatively. Infact, the Red tape reduction Act was passed in some areas in Canada.

Idiom scenarios:

Scenario 1:

Resident : Have you got permission to construct a park in our locality?

Charity worker: Not yet. I’ve filled in all the forms but there’s no reply.

Resident: How long will it take to receive the approval?

Charity worker: May be six months. It is a slow process.

Resident: The red tape is annoying. 

Scenario 2:

Sita :  Have you submitted your entries for the drawing competition?

Lila : Yes, I did. Infact, we had to fill a form and attest a copy of address proof.

Sita: When will the results be announced?

Lila: It will take long for the verification process. The red tape is irritating. 

Scenario 3:

Minister: What are these files for? 

Secretary: They are regarding the border dispute between state A and state B. State A  is pressuring to get it done soon.

Minister: The red tape is in process. Ask them to be patient. 

Examples:

Go through the examples  to understand the usage of the idiom:

1.Since it was an accident the doctor did not attend to the patient till the red tape was completed.  

2. The new state wanted less red tape for an efficient governance. 

3. The old man will get his pension sanctioned after the red tape is over.