rigmarole

noun

/ˈrɪɡmərəʊl/

(North American English also rigamarole

/ˈrɪɡəmərəʊl/

)

[uncountable, singular]

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a long and complicated process that is annoying and seems unnecessary（不必要的）冗长复杂的手续
- I couldn't face the whole rigmarole of getting a work permit again.我无法再次面对获取工作许可证所需的各种冗长复杂的手续。
a long and complicated story冗长曲折的故事
- She turned up an hour late with some rigmarole about catching the wrong train.她迟到了一个小时，还说了些关于赶错火车的废话。

Word Originmid 18th cent.: apparently an alteration of ragman roll, originally denoting a legal document recording a list of offences.