Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A situation in which a desired outcome or solution is impossible to attain because of a set of inherently contradictory rules or conditions.
- noun A contradictory or self-defeating course of action.
- noun A tricky or disadvantageous condition; a catch.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun idiomatic A difficult
situation from which there is no escape because it involves mutuallyconflicting or dependentconditions .
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Catch-22.
Examples
-
Algren, with far greater precision, called Catch-22 "not merely the best American novel to come out of World War II; it is the best American novel to come out of anywhere in years."
Jan Herman: What's the Catch? Jan Herman 2011
-
Algren, with far greater precision, called Catch-22 "not merely the best American novel to come out of World War II; it is the best American novel to come out of anywhere in years."
Jan Herman: What's the Catch? Jan Herman 2011
-
The same way you wouldn't call 'Catch-22' or 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' non-fiction, or any of these other books about war.
-
He worked itinerantly all over the country, but has never had an apartment of his own, or even -- this amazed me -- a photo I.D. (These days, you need a photo I.D. to get the birth certificate you need to get a photo I.D. It's a classic Catch-22.)
Mark Olmsted: My Brother's Keeper Mark Olmsted 2010
-
But, though not quite a Catch-22, it is awfully close: you can't get out of poverty without a good education, but you aren't likely to get a good education without first getting out of poverty.
Dr. Jim Taylor: Arne and Bill's Misguided Adventure: An Open Letter Dr. Jim Taylor 2011
-
Harrison: It's kind of a Catch-22 because you're supposed to start falling in love and caring about someone; but if you do, then obviously you don't want them dating a bunch of other guys and you definitely don't want to watch it.
Chris Harrison: Brad Feels Stupid and Ashamed Over Losing Emily 2011
-
A recent study by a University of Chicago economist supports my take on this Catch-22, concluding that preventive intervention is more cost effective, economically efficient and fiscally prudent than remediation once children begin school.
Dr. Jim Taylor: Arne and Bill's Misguided Adventure: An Open Letter Dr. Jim Taylor 2011
-
But the reason these all-important investors continue to buy and hold Treasurys may have little to do with their faith in Washington, D.C.'s capacity to get its fiscal house in order and more to do with a Catch-22 dilemma known as "the dollar trap."
'Dollar Trap' Ties Reluctant Foreign Central Banks To U.S. Treasurys Min Zeng 2011
-
But, though not quite a Catch-22, it is awfully close: you can't get out of poverty without a good education, but you aren't likely to get a good education without first getting out of poverty.
Dr. Jim Taylor: Arne and Bill's Misguided Adventure: An Open Letter Dr. Jim Taylor 2011
-
A recent study by a University of Chicago economist supports my take on this Catch-22, concluding that preventive intervention is more cost effective, economically efficient and fiscally prudent than remediation once children begin school.
Dr. Jim Taylor: Arne and Bill's Misguided Adventure: An Open Letter Dr. Jim Taylor 2011
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.