E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Red Tape.
Official formality; so called because lawyers and government officials tie their papers together with red tape. Charles Dickens introduced the phrase.
1
“There is a good deal of red tape at Scotland Yard, as anyone may find to his cost who has any business to transact there.”—W. Terrell: Lady Delmar, bk. iii. 2.
