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Amtsschimmel

red tape

noun AMTS-shim-mel Rare
People & Society Government

Origin: literally 'office white horse', a humorous personification

Also means

bureaucratic pedantry

Usage Note

Amtsschimmel is a colloquial, mocking term for excessive bureaucracy. The idiom der Amtsschimmel wiehert (the office horse neighs) means red tape is running wild. It is almost always used in the singular and carries a clearly critical, ironic tone.

Examples

"Hier wiehert der Amtsschimmel besonders laut."

Natural Translation

Here the red tape is especially out of control.

Literal Translation

Here neighs the office-horse especially loud.

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