Gordian

[ gawr-dee-uhn ]

adjective

pertaining to Gordius, ancient king of Phrygia, who tied a knot (the Gordian knot ) that, according to prophecy, was to be undone only by the person who was to rule Asia, and that was cut, rather than untied, by Alexander the Great.
resembling the Gordian knot in intricacy.

Idioms about Gordian

cut the Gordian knot, to act quickly and decisively in a difficult situation; solve a problem boldly.

1555–65; <Latin Gordi(us) (<Greek Górdios Gordius) + -an

Then it was to get a case to the Supreme Court where something magical would slice through the Gordian knot tied by American voters.
The most petulant 46 minutes in American history | Philip Bump | December 3, 2020 | Washington Post
Of course, if we can mix our classical references, Russia has its Sword of Damocles to cut this Gordian Knot.
Ravenous Russia? Thirsty Crimea. | Oleg Shynkarenko, Will Cathcart | May 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Berlusconi, it is true, did not cut this Gordian knot, but neither did he tie it in the first place.
Berlusconi Exits, and an Era of Sexist Buffoonery Is Over | Lawrence Osborne | November 17, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Entwined within this Gordian knot is a truth so terrible as to be rarely spoken.
Obama's Historic Mideast Gamble | Leslie H. Gelb | May 21, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Under Gordian and Philip a respite was again granted to the persecuted church.
The Catacombs of Rome | William Henry Withrow

He did not know whether he could break off his engagement at all, so great was his horror of ruptures, of cutting Gordian-knots.
Overlooked | Maurice Baring
To follow the interlacing line of an ornament, gives the mind the pleasure of untying the Gordian knot, without cutting it.
Needlework As Art | Marian Alford
The compulsory exercise of governmental authority cut the Gordian knot with the result that substantial justice now obtains.
Railroads: Rates and Regulations | William Z. Ripley
It might not please him exactly but—he went round and round from one problem to another, trying to untie this Gordian knot.
The "Genius" | Theodore Dreiser

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