國人對red tape的解讀千遍一律都是字典所述的繁文縟節，未思在不同語境下須如何轉變語意，實在是難度太高，大家不願思索之故：
The money is tied up in red tape and layers of bureaucracy. 這筆錢被繁複的法令與層層的官僚綁住。
But he applauded the relaxing of red tape for land clearing. 但他贊成鬆綁墾地的繁複法令。
Because of all red tape at immigration I missed my connecting flight. 因為移民署那些繁複手續，我錯失了轉機航班。
We got bogged down in a morass of bureaucratic red tape.我們陷在官僚作業程序的泥淖中。
He attacked the government for breaking its promise to cut red tape. 他攻擊政府違反刪減官僚作風的承諾。
