cut red tape
(US, idiomatic) To reduce bureaucracy.
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
(US, idiomatic) To reduce bureaucracy.
This insurance company is an expert at cutting red tape to process your claim faster.
Origin: from cut "to remove" + red tape "excessive bureaucratic procedures". Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Heard in the wild
“Minneapolis city staff are looking for ways to cut red tape in the development process, providing pre-approved designs for accessory dwelling units, and streamlining permitting of small home improvement projects.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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Other words near "cut red tape" (C)
cut oncut onecut one loosecut one's luckycutorcut outcut roundcutroundcutscut stickcuttercut the cheese
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