In 17th Century England, official documents were tied or bound by a certain material, and as a result, today we have an idiom based on that fact. What is it?

The idiom "red tape" finds its origins in a very literal practice from centuries past. In 17th-century England, and indeed across much of Europe, official government and legal documents were often physically bound together with a particular material: a strong, red-colored ribbon or tape. This practice served a practical purpose, securing important papers and distinguishing them from more mundane correspondence. The use of red was not arbitrary; it was a color historically associated with royalty, authority, and significance, and the dyes used to create this vibrant hue were often costly, further emphasizing the importance of the documents it held.

Initially, this red tape was a sign of order and proper procedure, ensuring that critical state or legal matters were clearly identified and kept intact. Clerks and officials would use this distinctive binding to keep files organized, and sometimes even to seal them, requiring the tape to be cut to access the contents. The act of physically tying up documents became synonymous with the formal processes of government and law.

Over time, however, as administrative systems grew more complex and bureaucratic, the very material that once signified importance began to represent delay and excessive formality. By the 19th century, with the rise of widespread government administration, the term "red tape" evolved into a metaphor for rigid adherence to rules and regulations, often to the point of inefficiency or obstruction. Today, when we speak of "cutting through red tape," we are referring to the frustration of navigating overly complicated procedures and paperwork, a direct echo of the literal act of untying or cutting the red ribbons that once bound official documents.