Catch-22
21
9.6
- noun
- /ˈkæʧ ˈtwɛntiˈtu/
- Informal
- The project manager faced a Catch-22: the team needed more resources to meet the deadline, but they couldn't secure funding without completing the current project first.
- Catch-22 situation
- caught in a Catch-22
- Catch-22 results
Examples
-
Teachers are often caught in a "Catch-22" situation when trying to get access to school computer labs.
Academic text (1998) -
People's anger at the census in part reflects their frustration with being forced into this Catch-22 predicament.
Academic text (2002) -
It's sort of a Catch-22, you know?
-
There are all kinds of Catch-22s out there.
Academic text (2000) -
One of the problems is that I'm caught in a real Catch-22 situation.
Blog text (15) -
The prison system is filled with catch-22 provisions for its inmates.
Academic text (2004) -
In their economic performance, Third World dictatorships seem to be caught in a catch-22.
Academic text (1990) -
In an attempt to conceal her Catch-22 predicament, Pat said nothing.
Fiction book (1990) -
Many people find themselves in a Catch-22 when they cannot gain work experience without a job, but they cannot get a job without experience.
-
In his career, he encountered a Catch-22 when he needed recommendations from employers, but every job required previous experience.
Synonyms
199
4.2
A situation where you must choose between two or more bad options
75
5.8
A difficult or embarrassing situation that is hard to escape
28
7.9
A difficult situation that is hard to escape or solve
12
5.3
A situation where every choice leads to a bad result
9
6.7
A difficult situation where you have no good choice
1
8.2
Facing a choice between two equally bad options
1
9.0
To have to choose between two equally bad options while people on both sides pressure you
A hard situation where no choice seems good
How Solvable
∞
3.0
∞
1.2
199
4.2
75
5.8
- Informal
21
9.6
34
5.3
Surface Forms
Etymology
Catch-22 comes from Joseph Heller's novel, where a military rule called Catch-22 trapped pilots: if you asked to be excused from dangerous missions you were seen as sane, so you could not be excused. So Catch-22 now means a 'no-win' situation or a problem you cannot escape because different rules stop you.