Red tape

Red tape is a critical term for excessive bureaucracy. The word is attested in redensartlicher use since the 19th century.

Possible derivations

Where does the word comes, is debatable. The following three derivations of the concept are:

Apparently for the mold on record as naming motif has never known a specimen.

Use

After Melchior Kirchhofer (1824 ), the phrase was "On the magisterial mold riding around " literally and he explained by the fact that service horses in Switzerland were formerly often used for private rides. With reference to Kirchhofer, but now in the form of " Everybody Wants to ride the red tape ," the phrase in Joshua Eiselein (1838 ) appears. Without further explanation it is in Karl Simrock (1846 ).

In the 20th century, the term " red tape " in the phrases " the red tape ride " ( in the meaning ' to bureaucratic behavior ') and " red tape neighs ( trots, needs re- lining )" ( in the meaning ' there is the bureaucracy ' ) were used.