Catch-22

Rate this phrase:4.0 / 2 votes

Catch-22

A difficult situation from which there is no escape because it involves mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.

Etymology:

Title of the novel by Joseph Heller, in which the main character feigns madness in order to avoid dangerous combat missions, but his desire to avoid them is taken to prove his sanity.

: 431 Views

“

For us it's been a real Catch-22; when we have the time to take a vacation, we don't have enough money and when we have enough money, we don't have the time.

Collection Edit

Submitted on July 07, 2010

Translation

Find a translation for the Catch-22 phrase in other languages:

22 capturas

Select another language:

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Catch-22

catch up catch you on the flip side catch up catch someone's eye catch someone's drift catch up catch up catch up catch the sun catch up Catch You Later catch the eye throw a sprat to catch a mackerel catch you later

How to pronounce this phrase?

Alex
US English
David
US English
Mark
US English
Daniel
British
Libby
British
Mia
British
Karen
Australian
Hayley
Australian
Natasha
Australian
Veena
Indian
Priya
Indian
Neerja
Indian
Zira
US English
Oliver
British
Wendy
British
Fred
US English
Tessa
South African

Discuss this Catch-22 phrase with the community:

0 Comments

Notify me of new comments via email.

Citation

Use the citation below to add this Catch-22 definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Catch-22." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/catch-22_11571>.

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

The Web's Largest Resource for

Phrases, Verbs & Idioms

A Member Of The STANDS4 Network

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

I'd take a _________ for that child.

A jab

B challenge

C bullet

D sword

Browse Phrases.com

#A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Random New Phrases