Gordian knot
/ (ˈɡɔːdɪən) /
noun
(in Greek legend) a complicated knot, tied by King Gordius of Phrygia, that Alexander the Great cut with a sword
a complicated and intricate problem (esp in the phrase cut the Gordian knot)
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Words nearby Gordian knot
gorbelly, gorblimey, Gorchakov, gorcock, Gordian, Gordian knot, gordian worm, Gordimer, Gordon, Gordon setter, Gordy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Cultural definitions for Gordian knot
Gordian knot
A complex knot tied by a Greek king. According to legend, whoever loosed it would rule all Asia. Alexander the Great, according to some accounts, undid the Gordian knot by cutting through it with his sword.
notes for Gordian knot
By extension, to “cut the Gordian knot” is to solve quickly any very complex problem or to get to the heart of a problem.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.