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Gordian knot (n.)

1560s, tied by Gordius (Greek Gordios), first king of Phrygia in Asia Minor and father of Midas, who predicted the one to loosen it would rule Asia. Instead, Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot with his sword; hence the extended sense (1570s in English) "solve a difficult problem in a quick, dramatic way."

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Definitions of Gordian knot from WordNet

Gordian knot (n.)
any very difficult problem; insoluble in its own terms;
Gordian knot (n.)
an intricate knot tied by Gordius, the king of Phrygia, and cut by the sword of Alexander the Great after he heard that whoever undid it would become ruler of Asia;
From wordnet.princeton.edu

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