Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: From a complicated knot tied by Gordius, king of ancient Phrygia, which Alexander the Great cut through with his sword

Gordian knot

 noun
     
Gor‧di‧an knot

cut/untie the Gordian knot

to quickly solve a difficult problem by determined action:
In recent years, governments have tried to cut the Gordian knot by imposing cuts in state support to the railways.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary