catch-22
Say it: catch twen-tee-TOO /ˌkætʃ twɛntiˈtuː/ · noun
What “catch-22” means
A trap where each requirement stops you meeting the other.
More precisely: A dilemma where conflicting rules make escape impossible.
Example: “You need experience to get a job and a job to get experience: a real catch-22.”
When to use it
In everyday conversation about frustrating problems where two conflicting requirements leave you unable to move forward.
Similar words
no-win situation, double bind, vicious circle
Where it comes from
From Joseph Heller's 1961 novel Catch-22.
Quick check
You need an address to open a bank account, but an account to rent a home. What is this?
a catch-22 or a setback?
Show the answer
a catch-22
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