a Gordian knot



a Gordian knot

  (formal)
a difficult problem
Usage notes: In an old story, King Gordius of Phrygia tied a complicated knot which no one could make loose, until Alexander the Great cut it with his sword.
Homelessness in the inner cities has become a real Gordian knot.
See also: Gordian, knot

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
&Aelig;Thelno&Eth;-Anglo-Saxon
Balfe[bælf]
Serhat-Turkish
&Aelig;&Eth;Elfl&Aelig;D-Anglo-Saxon
EmoryEM-ə-reeEnglish
GordanGOR-dahn (Serbian, Croatian)Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian