条条框框

条条框框 [tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng]

1. ■ restrictions and fetters; baggage; conventions and taboos; regulations and restrictions; rules and regulations; conventions:

为条条框框所束缚 be hedged in with rules and regulations;

思想上的条条框框 the trammels of conventional [outmoded] ideas;

条条框框太多， 办事效率不高。 There are too many regulations and restrictions, and that makes it impossible to get things done quickly.