Gordian knot
/ˈɡɔːdɪən
/noun
An extremely difficult or involved problem.However, the overall intent and effect of the play was one of a happy lark through the Gordian knot of contemporary socio-political problems and out to a happy ending....
- It's just that sometimes when the red cloud descends, the instantaneous, irrevocable solution is irresistibly appealing, as Alexander the Great proved by hacking through the Gordian knot.
- Life conditions and life strategies are as tightly entwined as the Gordian knot.
Phrases
cut the Gordian knot
Origin
Mid 16th century: from the legend that Gordius, king of Gordium, tied an intricate knot and prophesied that whoever untied it would become the ruler of Asia. It was cut through with a sword by Alexander the Great.
- the staff of life
- the States
- the sterner sex
- the stone end
- the story goes
- the straight and narrow
- the straight wire
- the Street
- the streets are paved with gold
- the strength of
- the struggle for existence (or life)
- the Sublime
- the Sultan
- the summer country
- the sun
- the sun is over the yardarm
- the Supreme Being
- the sword of justice
- theta
- the tail of one's eye
- the tail wags the dog
- theta rhythm
- theta role
- the Tasman
- the Tatras