快刀斩乱麻

kuài dāo zhǎn luàn má

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Definitions

  1. 1. lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
  2. 2. cutting the Gordian knot

Child Words of 快刀斩乱麻

乱
luàn

in confusion or disorder

刀
dāo

knife

快
kuài

rapid

斩
zhǎn

to behead (as form of capital punishment)

麻
má

generic name for hemp, flax etc

乱麻
luàn má

lit. tangled skein