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Gordian knot definition

Gor·dian knot (gôr′dē ən)

  1. Gr. Legend a knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia, which an oracle reveals will be undone only by the future master of Asia: Alexander the Great, failing to untie it, cuts the knot with his sword
  2. any perplexing problem
Gordian knot Idioms

cut the Gordian knot

to find a quick, bold solution for a perplexing problem

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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