catch-22
Meaning
A no-win situation where a solution is blocked by a circular rule or contradictory conditions, so you can’t escape the problem.
Origin
From Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel *Catch-22*, where a military rule creates a paradox: to be excused from flying you must be insane, but requesting to be excused proves you’re sane—so you must fly.
Notes
Often used with frustration or irony. Implies an unfair, self-contradictory rule that prevents any solution. Common in everyday and workplace contexts; avoid overusing for simple problems.
Examples
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It’s a catch-22: I need experience to get the job, but I need the job to get experience.
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The visa process feels like a catch-22—without an address you can’t open a bank account, and without a bank account you can’t rent an apartment.
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She was stuck in a catch-22 because the insurance would pay only after the repair was completed, but she couldn’t afford the repair without the payout.
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Their policy creates a catch-22: employees must report issues immediately, but they’re punished for speaking up.
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It’s a catch-22 in small towns—if you don’t drive, you can’t get to work, and without work you can’t afford a car.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually a countable noun: “a catch-22,” “the catch-22,” plural “catch-22s.” Often follows “it’s” or “a classic catch-22.” Hyphen is standard; capitalization varies (Catch-22).
Synonyms
- paradox
- no-win situation
- double bind
- vicious circle
- bureaucratic trap
Antonyms
- a clear solution
- a straightforward situation
- an easy fix