From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcut/untie the Gordian knotcut/untie the Gordian knotSOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEMto quickly solve a difficult problem by determined action In recent years, governments have tried to cut the Gordian knot by imposing cuts in state support to the railways. → Gordian knot
Examples from the Corpus
cut/untie the Gordian knot• A similar attempt to cut the Gordian knot of Chapter 4 also proves to be fallacious.• If Gorbachev expects to untie the Gordian knot, he has over-estimated his powers. 