red tape
->Meaning: Strict adherence to rules and regulations so that a procedure seems to take longer than necessary.
-For example:
-It takes a long time to set up a company in some countries because of all the red tape involved in getting government permits.
-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.
