Gordian Knot

When Zoe told the Second Doctor that "you just can't cut through hyperoxide", the Second Doctor remarked that "the Gordian Knot couldn't be untied, either". Zoe was immediately perplexed, and Jamie, trying to impress the newly-met girl genius, stumbled around for a definition, whereupon the Doctor revealed that it meant "there's always a solution". (TV: The Wheel in Space)

Behind the scenes

Unremarked in the story is any sort of context for the phrase, which is based on a real knot Alexander the Great was once challenged to untie. It seemed impossible, but the problem was easy as long as it was examined from all angles. Essentially, when one invokes the "Gordian Knot", one is saying, "Think outside the box and you'll find a solution."