The Gordian knot somehow dragged on the meaning of a phraseological unit. Two main meanings of phraseology

Phraseologism "Hercules exploits." Phraseologism "Where ours did not disappear" is a catch phrase. Gordian knot, . "Gordian Knot" - for the first time translated into Russian detective Bernhard Schlink about the secrets of industrial espionage. We use it in this sense too. Phraseologism "The voice of one crying in the wilderness" is a catch phrase.


Having become the king of Phrygia, he founded the capital, giving it his name, and in the citadel of the city he installed his wagon, thanks to which he came to power, entangling the yoke of the wagon with the most complex knot of dogwood. Most of the ancient historians report that a young warrior entered an ancient temple, took a closer look at the glorified knot and, instead of unraveling it, drew his sword and cut it with one blow.

He took out his sword and in front of his soldiers and temple priests, in one fell swoop cut the bast knot, over which the craftsmen who wanted to become famous fought for so long. The Phrygian king Gordius brought a chariot as a gift to the temple of Zeus. An ox yoke was tied to her drawbar - tied with such an intricate knot of dogwood bast that no craftsman could unravel it.

While I was tying the knot, I was getting old! Gordius, an unknown peasant, was the first to enter the city on his cart. Gordius tied the yoke to the drawbar of the cart. Phraseologism "Ugly duckling" - about a person whose true virtues are revealed completely unexpectedly to others. The emergence of phraseology is the name of the fairy tale by G. H. Andersen (1805-1875). It says that one day among the hatched ducklings there was one ugly - "ugly duckling", unlike his brothers.

Phraseologism "Newspaper duck". Newspaper duck - about false news printed in newspapers. Later, this word allegedly turned into "lug ente" (which literally means "deceitful duck"), and then simply into "duck" with a figurative meaning already known to us.

To cut the Gordian knot is:

Phraseologism "Hamburg account". The Hamburg bill is about valuing something without discounts and concessions, with the utmost exactingness. The emergence of phraseology - the words of the Austrian Minister Rechberg. Phraseologism “Nails should be made of these people” about people who are famous for their stamina or stubbornness. The emergence of phraseologism - from the poem by N. S. Tikhonov (1896-1979) "The Ballad of Nails" (1922), which tells about human resilience.

There are no survivors." Nails would be made from these people: There would be no stronger nails in the world. Phraseologism “The highlight of the program” (of the season) has the following meanings: 1) the best number, the best artist in the concert, making a sensation; 2) the best program for something. And sometimes in a conversation you can hear something like this: "This is the crux of everything."

Phraseologism “Wherever you work, just don’t work” about lazy people who just want to mess around. Phraseologism "Where ours did not disappear" is used in the meaning - experienced people can get out of a difficult situation. Phraseologism “Where can we, fools, drink tea” is used as irony, even malice, they say, we are small people, where can we go without other people's advice! The emergence of a phraseological unit is an expression belonging to one of the closest friends of A.S. Pushkin (1799-1837) to P.P. Kaverin.

Phraseologism "Hero of our time" is used in relation to a person whose thoughts and deeds most fully express the spirit of modernity, is used either approvingly or ironically. Phraseologism “The main thing, guys, is not to grow old with your heart” is used to cheer up people whose youth is already over.

Phraseologism "Burn people's hearts with the verb." The meaning of this ironic expression: everything looked good in the plans, but in reality nothing happened. The emergence of a phraseological unit - from a well-known Russian proverb - "Stupid as a cork, where you stick it, it sticks out there." Phraseologism "Stupid as a gray gelding" is used in the meaning - very stupid. The motivation for the turnover is transparent.

According to legend, it was believed that a person who could unravel this "Gordian knot" would become the ruler of all of Asia. And so, in 334 BC, the capital of Phrygia was conquered by the greatest of the commanders of antiquity - Alexander the Great. 1. According to legend, the oracle ordered the Phrygians to elect the king of the one who first meets them with a cart on the way to the temple of Zeus. This first comer was a simple plowman Gordius.

See what the "Gordian knot" is in other dictionaries:

Phraseologism "Gordian knot" means a situation where a certain problem or task is so complex that a non-standard, original approach is required to solve it. Zeus: And in general! More than (return, enough) The word "more than" was in the old Russian language. It means "too much", "too much". Some derivative words were formed from it; so, for example, the interest that a person, further ...

Phraseologisms for the letter G. Meaning and origin

Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. Zeus in Gardium, in Galatia. From now on, every lie in the press is called a duck. Marvelous? However, there is another version of the origin of the turnover. It is also possible that this new meaning only overlapped with the previous negative semantics of "duck". However, the supporters of this opinion have serious opponents - the Germans. And their arguments cannot be ignored.

From a collection of critical articles by V. Shklovsky called "The Hamburg Account" (1928). But, apparently, the Hamburg account is Shklovsky's own expression. Hannibal at the gate! (Hannibal ante portas!) Hannibal threatened the existence of Rome in the 3rd century BC, but the Romans remembered him two centuries later.

Expression - semantic tracing paper with fr. clou de la saison (de l'exposition). The origin of the turnover is associated with the name of the Eiffel Tower (similar to a nail), built for the World Exhibition of 1889 in Paris and caused a sensation. What is this nail? And is he related to an ordinary, well-known nail that can be driven into a wall?

And now, under the influence of a foreign word that has a figurative meaning, our “nail” also began to live a second, figurative life. If you now hear that such and such a play is the "highlight of the season", be sure to see it in the theater. 1. The landowners-serfs, leaving for the winter from the estates to the cities, gave balls and receptions, where “winter” crayfish were considered an exquisite dish. Serfs had to catch them in cold water. 2. Initially, the expression meant "to drown", since crayfish hibernate at the bottom of reservoirs.

Phraseologism "The voice of one crying in the wilderness." Knot my biil!!! Phraseologism "Guarantees not worth the paper on which they are written." Phraseologism “Genius is one percent of inspiration and ninety-nine percent of sweat” that a true genius is distinguished primarily by hard work and perseverance.

The history of the phraseologism "Gordian knot" originates in ancient times. In the first millennium BC. on the territory of modern Turkey there was a powerful state - Phrygia. Its inhabitants were mainly engaged in raising livestock, agriculture, crafts flourished in the country, the Phrygian rulers pursued an active foreign policy, took part in the Trojan wars against Greece (8th century BC).

In the ninth century B.C. the capital of the kingdom - the city of Gordion - was shaken by a wave of internecine wars. It was during this period of time that the concept of the “Gordian knot” arose. Its meaning is associated with the oracle's prediction that a person will soon appear who is able to take control of the country into his own hands. According to the prediction, the new ruler will enter the city in an open wagon. The first to enter Gordion after the prediction was a peasant named Gordius. The inhabitants of the city immediately declared the newcomer their new king. As a sign of gratitude, Gordius presented his wagon to the god Zeus, tying its shaft with a complex intricate knot to a pillar sticking out of the ground near the temple. Soon the oracle announced that the person who untied this knot could become the ruler not only of Phrygia, but of the entire East. However, for many centuries of the existence of this prediction, not a single craftsman has been able to untie the wagon of the Phrygian king from the pole. In this regard, this stable expression began to be called any situation that is unsolvable in the usual ways. By the way, the name Gordius was very common on the territory of the Phrygian state. That was the name of the first king of the country, who laid the foundation for the Gordia dynasty and built a new capital - the city of Gordion (instead of the then existing Kelen).

In the third century BC. Emperor of Macedonia Alexander the Great is sent to the East with the aim of conquering the Persian state. In 333, he comes to the ancient, still preserved (despite the fact that Phrygia itself ceased to exist about three centuries ago) the city of Gordion and visits the temple of Zeus. Alexander the Great was very inquisitive, however, like all Greeks, so he certainly wanted to visit this ancient sanctuary and see if the legendary “Gordian knot” really existed. When the inhabitants of the defeated city brought the ruler of Macedonia to the temple of Zeus, he took out his sword and, with the words “This is how I will solve this problem,” cut the knot. After this event, another phraseological expression arose - “to cut the Gordian knot”, meaning that with the help of physical force it is possible to solve any seemingly insoluble task.

According to the explanatory dictionary, the term “intricacies” is considered a synonym for the “Gordian knot”, denoting a complex construction and further presentation of one’s thoughts or an insidious plan. In modern Russian, this expression is rarely used, most often in fiction or historical literature.

Whether there really was a "Gordian knot" is not known for certain. No scientific evidence for this has been found to date. Some historians argue that this legend is just a folk fiction and an attempt to explain the origin of the winged expression. The main evidence of the existence of the prosperous country of Phrygia two millennia ago are the ruins of the oldest cities found on the territory of modern Turkey (namely, there, according to myths, the Phrygians lived).

In the concept of a modern person, the “Gordian knot” is a difficult, overwhelming task, the solution of which is not possible in a standard way. To cut the Gordian knot means to find an extraordinary creative solution to this problem.

Where did the expression "Gordian knot" come from?

Lyaksander

According to an ancient legend, the oracle ordered the inhabitants to choose the king of the one who first gets in their way with a cart. The first to come across was a resident named Gordius. As a token of gratitude, he gave the temple of Zeus a cart, on which he drove into the city. And he tied her to the altar with the most complicated knot of dogwood bast. This knot was so complicated that no one could unravel it. Then they said: whoever unravels it, he will conquer the whole world. Alexander the Great entered Phrygia, cut this knot and became the ruler of this land. The meaning of the phraseological unit Gordian knot, or Cut the Gordian knot- This means solving a difficult, intricate task in a simple, often forceful way.

-Irinka-

Many expressions have come to us from ancient legends, becoming winged. Such an expression is the phraseological unit "Gordian knot".

"Gordian knot"- these are circumstances that are very confusing, and it is very difficult to understand and find a way out of them.

This phraseological unit is rooted in an old legend.

The essence of the legend is:

The kingdom of Phrygia, left without a ruler, began to look for a zamun for him. To do this, people went for advice to the oracle, who ordered to go on a journey and the first person on the wagon should become their ruler.

The Phrygians, having obeyed the oracle, met on their way Gordias, a simple landowner, who became their king. Exactly Gordius ordered to install a wagon, entangled in a complex knot of cornelian bast rope.

The person who can cut this knot was promised to become the ruler of all of Asia. No one was able to cut this knot. And only a year later, in 334 BC, this knot poked Alexander the Great. He with his sword and hefty strength was able to cut the Gordian knot.

Galina78

Cut the Gordian knot - this expression came to us from the depths of ancient times and, of course, it has a deep meaning, which in this expression means to solve a very difficult task very quickly and correctly. If we look at an old legend that tells how this Gordian Knot was formed, then we learn that a man named Gordius tied his cart with a very tangled knot to the altar base and left it there, and no matter how hard the inhabitants of ancient Rome tried to unravel the knot, but all their efforts were in vain, and when Alexander the Great appeared, he did not bother with the knot for a long time and unravel it, but simply cut it with one swing of the sword and therefore became immediately famous.

According to the legend, King Gordius tied his cart to the altar of the temple of Zeus on this knot. Yes, the knot was so complicated that no one could untie it. And then the prediction went that whoever unraveled it, the whole world would submit to him. conquered Macedonian, then he did not become wiser for a long time, but cut this knot with one blow of the sword. From there the phrase "cut the Gordean knot" came from, that is, boldly and decisively solve a difficult task.

Ludwigo

To become the ruler of Asia, it was necessary to untie the knot of dogwood bast, woven by the former simple farmer Gordius, who became the king of Phrygia. According to one version, in 334 BC, Alexander the Great cut the knot, according to another, he untied it by performing a simple action

This expression began to be used when it is necessary to solve an extremely important and complex task simply and sharply, decisively, without delay.

Origin of the word Gordian knot

Lenochka

The Gordian knot is a complex knot tied according to legend by the Phrygian king Gordius, who was cut by Alexander the Great. In a figurative sense, it can mean any difficult task. “Cut the Gordian knot” means to apply a non-classical, extraordinary and, at the same time, highly effective form of solving a problem.
Legend [edit | edit wiki text] According to legend, the priests of the Phrygian temple of Zeus predicted that the first to enter their city would be the most prominent king in the history of the country. Gordy, an unknown peasant, was the first to enter the city on his cart. He was chosen Phrygian king. In memory of this event, he donated a cart to the temple of Zeus, on which he entered the city. Gordius tied her to the altar with such a complex knot of dogwood bast that no craftsman could unravel it. The oracle predicted that the whole world would submit to the person who unraveled the Gordian knot. He will create an empire that will include all of Asia.
And so the capital of Phrygia was conquered by the greatest of the commanders of antiquity - Alexander the Great. Most writers report that a young warrior entered an ancient temple, looked at the glorified knot, and drawing his sword cut it with one blow. The priests interpreted it this way: “He will conquer the world! But with a sword, not diplomacy. However, according to the story of Aristobulus, “Alexander easily managed to solve the problem and release the yoke by removing the hook from the front end of the drawbar - the so-called “gestor”, which fastens the jugular belt.”

Tatycvet

Another poetic legend. The Phrygian king Gordius brought a chariot as a gift to the temple of Zeus. An ox yoke was tied to her drawbar - tied with such an intricate knot of dogwood bast that no craftsman could unravel it. There was no shortage of attempts: the oracle predicted that the man who unraveled the Gordian knot would take over the whole world.

And so the capital of Phrygia was conquered by the greatest of the commanders of antiquity, Alexander the Great (356-323 BC). The young warrior entered the old temple, took a closer look at the famous knot, and suddenly, drawing his sword, he cut it with one blow.

We call the Gordian knot any confusing matter, a problem that is difficult to resolve. “Cutting the Gordian knot” means: boldly, energetically solving a difficult matter.

GORDIAN KNOT, according to ancient Greek legend, a tangled knot with which the Phrygian king Gordius tied the yoke to the drawbar of a cart. The oracle predicted that the one who untied the knot would gain dominion over the world. According to legend, Alexander the Great in 334 BC. e. in response to the proposal to unravel the knot, he cut it with a sword (hence "cut the Gordian knot" - to take a quick and bold decision on a confusing and complex issue).

What does the Gordean knot mean?

Natalia Golikova

That's right, the Gordian knot. According to ancient Greek legend, a tangled knot with which the Phrygian king Gordius tied the yoke to the drawbar of the cart. The oracle predicted that the one who untied the knot would gain dominion over the world. According to legend, Alexander the Great in 334 BC. e. in response to the proposal to unravel the knot, he cut it with a sword (hence "cut the Gordian knot" - to take a quick and bold decision on a confusing and complex issue).

⚓ Otter ☸

This term has other meanings, see Knot (disambiguation).

"Alexander the Great cuts the Gordian knot"

According to legend, the priests of the Phrygian temple of Zeus predicted that the first to enter their city would be the most prominent king in the history of the country. Gordius, an unknown peasant, was the first to enter the city on his cart. He was chosen Phrygian king. In memory of this event, he donated a cart to the temple of Zeus, on which he entered the city. Gordius tied her to the altar with such a complex knot of dogwood bast that no craftsman could unravel it. The oracle predicted that the person who unraveled the Gordian knot would conquer the whole world.

And so the capital of Phrygia was conquered by the greatest of the commanders of antiquity - Alexander the Great (356-323 BC). Most writers report that a young warrior entered an ancient temple, looked at the glorified knot, and suddenly, drawing his sword, cut it with one blow. The priests interpreted it this way: “He will conquer the world! But with a sword, not diplomacy. However, according to the story of Aristobulus, “Alexander easily managed to solve the problem and release the yoke by removing the hook from the front end of the drawbar - the so-called “gestor”, which fastens the jugular belt.”

"Gordian knot" refers to any complicated case or difficult to resolve issue. “Cutting the Gordian knot” means: boldly, decisively and energetically solving a difficult matter.

Elena Muromskaya

Gordius (Greek Górdios), the legendary founder of the Phrygian kingdom. According to legend, G., a plowman, was elected king at the direction of the oracle as the first person whom the Phrygians saw riding a cart. Having become king, G. built the city of Gordion; he brought his cart as a gift to Zeus and, having installed it in the temple, tied the yoke to the drawbar with such a complex knot that no one could untie it. The oracle's prediction allegedly said that whoever unties this "Gordian knot" will gain dominion over the world. According to legend, Alexander the Great visited Gordion in 334 and, on an offer to unravel the knot, cut it with a sword. Hence the expression "cut the Gordian knot", that is, to take a quick and bold decision on a confusing and complex issue.

Phrase"Gordian knot" means a certain situation when the task or problem being performed is so complex that the person solving this task needs to apply an original non-standard approach.

The history of the expression "Gordian knot"

The legend of the great conqueror Alexander the Great has survived to this day, who, instead of thoughtfully solving a difficult problem, used his sword to eliminate the difficulty that had arisen. And the story began long before Alexander. The priests of the god Zeus announced publicly that the next Phrygian king the person who first enters the city can become. This lucky man unexpectedly became an ordinary peasant, whose name was Gordius. his day. Deciding to have some fun, this former peasant tied his former cart to the altar in such a cunning way that even the most dexterous and trained people could not untie those knots.

Then the Phrygian oracle, seeing that there was no way to untie the knots created by the cunning peasant guy, announced a new prophecy publicly.

Some time passed and under the walls of Phrygia stood the army of a young, but very ambitious ruler Alexander the Great.Having heard about that prophecy, Alexander immediately went to the temple, where he saw the same picture that his unsuccessful predecessors saw, a cart tied with a thin rope to the altar. Having carefully examined all the knots and plexuses of this Gordian puzzle, Alexander realized that he was not in able to solve this problem. Then another, but no less brilliant solution to this problem came to his mind.
Alexander pulled out his short sword and slashed it along the rope holding the cart. The knots fell apart and Alexander solved the task in such a non-trivial way. said the oracle.

Thus this difficult and unusual task was solved, the rumor about it quickly spread all over Phrygia, and then the whole world.
As Alexander the Great himself remarked, If you can't untie it, then you need to cut it". This means that if the problem is not solved, then it is worth looking at it from a completely different angle.
If the problem does not have a solution by traditional methods, but it needs to be solved, there is only one thing left - to take an extraordinary step and slash with a sword with all its might. This means getting out of a difficult and difficult situation with the help of some new original solution. This is what the phrase means now " cut the Gordian knot".

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What does the “Gordian knot” mean - this saying has been known to many since the school curriculum, when they studied phraseological units and myths of Ancient Greece in the classroom, but few people remember why the knot was called “Gordian”, and why no one could untie it? The determination of the great commander Alexander the Great created not only a legend, but also an expression applicable in the 21st century.

What is the Gordian knot in Ancient Greece?

"Gordian knot" - the meaning of this phrase stands for the knot that King Gordian created. According to the legends of ancient Greece, the area where this happened was called Phrygia, the current part of Turkey. In the 4th century BC e. the kingdom lost its king, and people went to the oracle. He predicted that the charioteer, whom the inhabitants would see, going to the temple of Zeus, would become king. This counter was the farmer Gordius, who later became a wise ruler. In memory of this event, the king placed the wagon in the center of the temple, securing the yoke with the most complicated knot.

What tied the "Gordian knot"?

The ruler Gordius was sure that the cart, on which he traveled to Phrygia, gave him the kingdom. In memory of this significant event, he decided to install it in the center of the capital, which he called Gordeon. And so that future rulers would not be tempted to untie the wagon, he secured the yoke with a very tricky knot, which created the concept of the “Gordian knot”. For weaving, the king used a cornelian bast rope, which could not be broken. There are 2 versions that she linked:

  1. The wagon and the central pillars of the temple of Zeus.
  2. The drawbar and the yoke of the wagon.

How to tie the "Gordian knot"?

For many centuries it was believed that the "Gordian knot" is a myth, but subsequently scientists put forward an assumption, what kind of intricacies can correspond to it. Given that Phrygia was once part of Turkey, this knot could be the current Turkish knot. Outwardly, it resembles a ball with the ends cleverly hidden inside, so that it is impossible to unravel it. If there is a "Gordian knot" - how to knit? Those who wish can repeat the deed of Gordias according to the instructions:

  1. Take a meter of rope, stretch the right end longer than the left.
  2. Roll the first end into a loop and put on the second.
  3. Lower the left end into the right loop, thread it through and put it on the same loop, creating a left one.
  4. Align three loops and make a fourth loop from the second end. They also repeat the weave.
  5. You get a plexus that can really be formed into a ball if you insert pencils into the center and squeeze with your palms. Then pull out the rods, tighten the ends of the rope.

What does it mean to cut the Gordian knot?

"If it is impossible to untie it, then it is possible to cut the Gordian knot," the great commander Alexander the Great came to this conclusion. The Phrygians told him a legend that whoever unraveled the knot would become the ruler of all of Asia, and the hero decided to achieve what he wanted by cutting the rope. Thanks to this, the story received 2 phraseological units:

  1. "Gordian knot".
  2. "Cut the Gordian knot."

If the first idiom symbolizes an extremely confusing situation or a difficult problem, then what does it mean to “cut the Gordian knot”? Here, too, 2 similar explanations are offered:

  • solve the problem with one strong-willed decision, at its discretion.
  • make a decision without much thought, with a possible violation of the conditions set.

The king who cut to cut

The myth "Gordian knot" tells that in 334 BC. Phrygia was captured by the great warrior Alexander the Great. When he learned the legend, allegedly the one who can untie the knot of King Gordias is worthy of being the ruler of Asia, he decided to prove his right. When the young commander realized that it was unrealistic to unravel the interlacing of ropes, and it was impossible to deviate from what had been said, then, without hesitation, he launched a weapon. Although the warrior violated the conditions, the oracles recognized his right, explaining the situation that it was more realistic to conquer the world with a sword without resorting to diplomacy.

Later, studying ancient texts, scientists found 2 versions of the legendary decision of Macedonian:

  1. The Warrior cut the knot with a single blow of his sword.
  2. He got rid of the knot, freeing the yoke on which the rope was wound.