Gordian knot
Cut, don't untie
A Gordian knot is a problem so tangled it seems impossible to solve by ordinary means.
The phrase comes from the legendary knot tied by King Gordius, which Alexander the Great supposedly solved by cutting through it with his sword.
To cut the Gordian knot is to resolve a complex difficulty through bold, decisive action rather than patient unraveling: Rather than negotiate endlessly, she cut the Gordian knot and fired everyone involved.
Forced choice between undesirables
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- quandaryState of perplexity
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
stalemate · predicament · intractable · insoluble · inextricable · insurmountable · gridlock · logjam
Macedonian empire builder
- MidasMythical transmuting monarch
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- chariotAncient horse-drawn fighter's vehicle
Zeus · Anatolia · kingship · destiny · antiquity · classical · Hellenistic · Macedonia
Twisted mass of strands
- snarlHostile vocal threat
- webInterwoven filament structure
- meshInterlocking open weave
- twistRotating motion or surprise
coil · intertwined · enmeshment · jumble · muddle · spaghetti · nested · interlocked
Hilted fighting blade
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
- lateral thinkingIndirect problem-solving approach
- breakthroughSudden important advance
shortcut · workaround · circumvent · direct action · unorthodox · creative solution · brute force · simplify
dilemma
Forced choice between undesirables
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- quandaryState of perplexity
- impasseSituation without resolution
deadlock · stalemate · predicament · intractable · insoluble · inextricable · insurmountable · gridlock · logjam · bottleneck
Alexander the Great
Macedonian empire builder
- MidasMythical transmuting monarch
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- prophecyForetelling of future events
chariot · Zeus · Anatolia · kingship · destiny · antiquity · classical · Hellenistic · Macedonia · conquest
tangle
Twisted mass of strands
twist · coil · intertwined · enmeshment · jumble · muddle · spaghetti · nested · interlocked · raveled
sword
Hilted fighting blade
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
- lateral thinkingIndirect problem-solving approach
breakthrough · shortcut · workaround · circumvent · direct action · unorthodox · creative solution · brute force · simplify
- Alexander legendsBucephalus, world conquest, divine birth, water of life, flying machine
- Greek & RomanAchilles heel, Trojan horse, Pandora's box, Midas touch, Odyssey
- Mythological WordsAchilles heel, Adonis, aegis, ambrosia, Apollo
- Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great, Bucephalus, Darius, Alexandria, empire builder
- Historical AllusionsTrojan horse, Achilles heel, Pyrrhic victory, crossing the Rubicon, Pandora's box
- historical anecdotesTrojan horse, wooden horse, Lady Godiva
Gordian knotchild's play
Something extremely easy
no-brainer · piece of cake · easy fix · walk in the park · pushover
Gordian knotclear path
Unobstructed way forward
slam dunk · foregone conclusion · quick fix · done deal · low-hanging fruit