Gordian knot
A Gordian knot is a complicated problem that seems almost impossible to solve by ordinary means; the phrase comes from the story of Alexander the Great confronting a tightly knotted wagon fastening at Gordium. To cut the Gordian knot means to solve such a problem through bold, direct action.
Where it comes from
The legendary knot
The story appears in Plutarch's account of Alexander. A wagon at Gordium had a fastening so tangled that its ends could not easily be found, and a prophecy linked undoing it with ruling Asia.
In Parallel Lives, Alexander confronts the knot at Gordium. Plutarch reports the familiar account in which Alexander cuts through it with his sword, while also recording a different explanation of how he undid it.
In Parallel Lives by Plutarch
A bold solution today
Today, the knot stands for an intricate difficulty, such as a dispute involving many competing demands. Cutting it means finding a decisive way past the tangle rather than working through every detail.
In the sword-cutting account in Parallel Lives, Alexander does not patiently loosen the fastening. His sudden action supplies the image behind the modern phrase.
In Parallel Lives by Plutarch
How to use Gordian knot
- Use Gordian knot for a problem with many tangled parts.
- Use cut the Gordian knot when someone takes decisive action.
- Check whether the shortcut truly solves the problem.
What does it mean to cut the Gordian knot?
It means to solve a complicated problem through a bold, direct step rather than a long series of small adjustments. The phrase often suggests admiration for decisiveness, though context can make the action seem impatient or too simple for the difficulty.
Did Alexander really cut the knot with a sword?
Ancient accounts differ, so the sword-cutting story is not certain history. In Parallel Lives, Plutarch reports that version alongside an account in which Alexander removes a pin from the wagon's fastening, allowing him to undo the knot.
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