Engineering to English Dictionary

[KukriKhan]

9. It is in process.
It is so wrapped in red tape that the situation is completely hopeless.

That's the one I am Most familiar with. In the late 70's, in the aftermath of the US experience in 'Nam, we tried to imagine what a soldier, alone in hostile territory, could configure out of his surroundings to enhance his survivability. Homemade slingshots seemed a promising idea. Dozens (maybe hundreds) of engineers worked that problem, and came up with a few new ideas... all quashed by "acquisition" red tape.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Slingshot? For what? A sling, I can easily understand - if you know how to employ such a notoriously difficult (for our time) skill. But a slingshot seems rather ineffective to me, unless there is some hidden purpose I am not aware of.

[CrossLOPER]

I've actually used many of those while coordinating with my colleagues.

[Crazed Rabbit]

CR