Word Study
red tape
THESAURUS
red tape
afterthought, beadledom, beat, beaten path, bind, block, blockage, bumbledom, bureaucracy, bureaucratic delay, bureaucratism, chinoiserie, daily grind, delay, delayage, delayed reaction, detention, double take, dragging, grind, groove, halt, hang-up, hindrance, holdup, interim, jam, jog trot, lag, lagging, logjam, moratorium, obstruction, official jargon, officialism, paperasserie, pause, red-tapeism, red-tapery, reprieve, respite, retardance, retardation, round, routine, run, rut, slow-up, slowdown, slowness, squirrel cage, stay, stay of execution, stop, stoppage, suspension, tie-up, time lag, track, treadmill, wait, well-worn grooveFor further exploring for "red tape" in Webster Dictionary Online