'cutting the red tape'

Posted by Ward Fredericks on January 11, 2004

The expression relates to getting around bureaucratic barriers to the realization of some objective. But why 'red tape' and how did this expression start -- was it originally a UK based expression or elsewhere in the English speaking world?

• 'cutting the red tape' James Briggs 11/January/04
  • 'red tape' / pink string Lewis 12/January/04