Idiomatic Phrases: “To cut the Gordian knot” means:

The idiomatic phrase "To cut the Gordian knot" means To solve a complex problem decisively. This idiom originates from an ancient Greek legend. According to the story, an oracle declared that whoever could untie the impossibly intricate Gordian knot would rule Asia. Alexander the Great, faced with this challenge, famously did not untie it but instead cut it in half with his sword, thus solving the problem in an unconventional and decisive manner.

• To create a problem is incorrect; the idiom refers to resolving an existing difficulty.
• To tie something tightly misinterprets the literal meaning of a knot; the idiom is about untangling or resolving, not creating.
• To avoid a challenge is also incorrect; Alexander confronted the challenge directly, albeit unconventionally.