Red tape
Meaning
Rigid or mechanical adherence to bureaucratic rules and regulations
especially those involving unnecessary paperwork.
Origin
red tapeLegal and official documents have been bound with red tape
since the 17th century and continue to be so. The first reference I
can find to this practice is the 1696-1715 Maryland Laws:
"The Map upon the Backside thereof sealed with his Excellency's
Seal at Arms on a Red Cross with Red Tape."
We now usually mean fussy or unnecessary bureaucracy when we refer to
'red tape'. The first record I have of it being used in that sense is
from The pleader's guide, 1796. This spoof verse, purporting to be the
work of John Surrebutter (a deceased barrister) was a satire on the
fussiness of English law. It includes the lines:
Nor would the Fates... Cut the red-tape of thy years.
This is part-way towards a metaphorical usage of the term, albeit
still clearly referring to actual lawyer's red-tape. The first
entirely figurative usage of 'red-tape' that I can find is in Edward
Bulwer-Lytton in Alice, or the Mysteries, 1838:
"The men of more dazzling genius began to sneer at the red-tape
minister as a mere official manager of details."
On Sep 10, 3:59 pm, Soniya111 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> A fool's paradise
>
> Meaning
>
> A state of happiness based on false hope.
>
> Origin
>
> An early phrase, first recorded in the Paston Letters, 1462:
>
> "I wold not be in a folis paradyce."
>
> Shakespeare later used it in Romeo and Juliet.
>
> Nurse:
> Now, afore God, I am so vexed, that every part about
> me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you, sir, a word:
> and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you
> out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself:
> but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into
> a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross
> kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman
> is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double
> with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered
> to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.
>
> Cheers n Enjoy
> Soniya
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