Gor ‧ di ‧ an knot /ˌɡɔːdiən ˈnɒt $ ˌɡɔːrdiən ˈnɑːt/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: From a complicated knot tied by Gordius , king of ancient Phrygia, which Alexander the Great cut through with his sword ]
cut/untie the Gordian knot to 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.