red tape
- excessive formalities in official business
Many businesses complain about the red tape that they must deal with in order to get anything done with the government.
roll out the red carpet
- to greet a person with great respect, to give a big welcome to someone
The government rolled out the red carpet when the politician came to visit.
sail under false colors
- to pretend to be something that one is not (a pirate ship used to disguise itself as an ordinary ship by using a false flag)
The head of the company is sailing under false colors and he does not really understand how the company works.
see pink elephants
- to see things which are not really there because they are only in your imagination
The man was seeing pink elephants according to those who listened to his story.
see red
- to become very angry
My boss saw red when I told him that I would not be coming to work today.
see the color of (someone's) money