Catch-22

Related to Catch-22: Joseph Heller

Catch-22

1. A problem, task, situation, or course of action in which the outcome or solution one desires is especially difficult or impossible to achieve due to contradictory, illogical, or paradoxical rules, regulations, or conditions. The term comes from the title of the 1961 novel by Joseph Heller, in which a fighter pilot attempts to avoid further combat missions under a statute stating that any pilot who willingly continues to fly missions is insane. However, he is thwarted by the pronouncement that if a pilot requests to stop flying, he proves his sanity by showing a concern for his own safety. The company's cost-reduction plan is a Catch-22—they need to lay off half the staff to keep the company open, but with so few people, we won't be able to complete all the work that's needed to earn enough revenue.

2. Any illogical, contradictory, or paradoxical rule or regulation, especially one that makes a desired outcome or solution impossible. The bank's overdraft policy is a Catch-22 for those trying to get out of poverty, as it charges you higher fees for having less money in your account.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Catch-22

A no-win dilemma or paradox, similar to damned if I do, damned if I don't. For example, You can't get a job without experience, but you can't get experience unless you have a job-it's Catch-22 . The term gained currency as the title of a 1961 war novel by Joseph Heller, who referred to an Air Force rule whereby a pilot continuing to fly combat missions without asking for relief is regarded as insane, but is considered sane enough to continue flying if he does make such a request.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a Catch 22

A Catch 22 is an extremely frustrating situation in which one thing cannot happen until another thing has happened, but the other thing cannot happen until the first thing has happened. There's a Catch 22 in social work. You need experience to get work and you need work to get experience. Note: You can also talk about a Catch 22 situation. It's a Catch 22 situation here. Nobody wants to support you until you're successful but without the support, how can you ever be successful? Note: This expression comes from the novel `Catch 22' (1961), by the American author Joseph Heller, which is about bomber pilots in the Second World War. Their `Catch 22' situation was that any sane person would ask if they could stop flying. However, the authorities would only allow people to stop flying if they were insane.

a catch-22 situation

a dilemma or difficulty from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.

The classic statement of this situation is in Joseph Heller 's novel Catch-22 ( 1961 ), from which the expression is taken: ‘Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. if he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.’

1997 New Scientist It's a catch-22 situation: you cannot get the job without having the relevant experience and you cannot get the experience without having first done the job.

(a) catch-22

a catch-22 situation

(informal) a difficult situation from which there is no escape because you need to do one thing before doing a second, and you cannot do the second thing before doing the first: I can’t get a job because I haven’t got any experience, but I can’t get experience until I get a job — it’s a catch-22 situation. Catch-22 is the title of a novel by Joseph Heller, in which the main character pretends to be crazy in order to avoid dangerous situations in war. The authorities say that he cannot be crazy if he is concerned about his own safety.

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

catch-22

n. a directive that is impossible to obey without violating some other, equally important, directive. There was nothing I could do. It was a classic catch-22.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

catch-22

Situation in which one can’t win because one is trapped by a paradox. The term arose in the 1961 novel of the same name by Joseph Heller. It refers to an air force rule whereby a pilot is considered insane if he continues to fly combat missions without asking for relief, but if he asks for relief he is considered sane enough to continue flying. The term was further popularized by a motion picture and today is used to describe common dilemmas in civilian life. Opera singer Renée Fleming described it well: “For potential engagements, the catch-22 was that it was very hard to get an audition if you didn’t have a manager, and it was almost impossible to get a manager unless you’d won an audition” (The Inner Voice, 2004). See also damned if you do, damned if you don't.

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

See also:

22
a Catch 22
a catch-22 situation
all or nothing
eat one's cake and have it (too)
eat one's cake and have it, too
hands are tied
(one's) hands are tied
your hands are tied
worldly desires

References in periodicals archive

From left: Catch-22 executive producer Grant Heslov with stars George Clooney, Christopher Abbott and Kyle Chandler

I have never really cared about what the medium was, I just wanted to do good work; It might be the 'golden age' of television but George Clooney is the first to admit that it takes time to locate the good content. He tells GEMMA DUNN why he found a winner in anti-war satire Catch-22

Yossarian wants to complete his service and live, but his efforts are blocked by Catch-22, a bureaucratic rule that states pilots don't have to fly if they are certified insane, but as being driven mad by fear is a rational response, they must be sane and therefore able to carry on with their missions.

Clooney's a real Catch for viewers; Hollywood heart-throb brings classic tale to small screen

From left: Catch-22 executive producer Grant Heslov with George Clooney and stars Christopher Abbott and Kyle Chandler

Catch-22 is a law defined in various ways throughout the novel.

My war of words over risky venture; George Clooney reveals fears at producing and starring in a new adaptation of the famous book Catch-22

Yossarian's only way to avoid the missions is to declare insanity, but the only way to prove insanity is a willingness to embark on more of the highly dangerous bombing runs, thus creating the novel's absurd 'Catch-22.'

George Clooney returns to television with 'Catch 22'

""Catch-22" follows a US bombardier named Yossarian who is infuriated that the army keeps raising the number of missions he must fly to be released from duty.

George Clooney's 'Catch-22' highlights 'insanity' of war

[USA], Jan 13 ( ANI ): George Clooney is all set to return to the television space with 'Catch-22', adaptation of Joseph Heller's classic novel.

George Clooney's TV comeback lands at Hulu

Chapter Four calls Catch-22 the definitive "postmodern World War II novel;" here, Brett emphasizes the circular nature of a Catch-22 and its ability to override humanity as an early development of postmodern understanding.

Brett, Laurel. Disquiet on the Western Front

The soldier in combat is trapped within [a] tragic Catch-22. If he overcomes his resistance to killing and kills an enemy soldier in close combat, he is forever burdened with blood guilt, and if he elects not to kill, then the blood guilt of his fallen comrades and the shame of his profession, nation, and cause lie upon him.

Thank You for Your Service

This amounts to Spunky Seniors Club's Catch-22. Wikipedia describes Catch-22 as a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules.

Spunky Seniors Club Finds Getting Noticed the Right Way and by the Right People is Essential for Success

No, everything about Catch-22 puts the ball firmly in the court of the director (in this case the American Rachel Chavkin - well done to her), the actors (nine of them playing a multitude of parts) and the creative folk around them.

A classy American wartime tale you really must catch

and The Graduate, director Mike Nichols set out to tackle Joseph Heller's blackly comic antiwar novel Catch-22, a sprawling, episodic book that many considered unfilmable.

Catch-22

University of Arkansas startup Picasolar and Catch-22 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock took home the top overall prizes Wednesday at the 2013 Donald W.

Governor's Cup winners announced

Sometimes it seems as though life has become more than a Catch-22. It's getting to be Catch-22, 23, 24, 25 and 26.

New meaning to phrase `call waiting'

词组	Catch-22
释义	Catch-22 Related to Catch-22: Joseph Heller Catch-22 1. A problem, task, situation, or course of action in which the outcome or solution one desires is especially difficult or impossible to achieve due to contradictory, illogical, or paradoxical rules, regulations, or conditions. The term comes from the title of the 1961 novel by Joseph Heller, in which a fighter pilot attempts to avoid further combat missions under a statute stating that any pilot who willingly continues to fly missions is insane. However, he is thwarted by the pronouncement that if a pilot requests to stop flying, he proves his sanity by showing a concern for his own safety. The company's cost-reduction plan is a Catch-22—they need to lay off half the staff to keep the company open, but with so few people, we won't be able to complete all the work that's needed to earn enough revenue. 2. Any illogical, contradictory, or paradoxical rule or regulation, especially one that makes a desired outcome or solution impossible. The bank's overdraft policy is a Catch-22 for those trying to get out of poverty, as it charges you higher fees for having less money in your account. Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. Catch-22 A no-win dilemma or paradox, similar to damned if I do, damned if I don't. For example, You can't get a job without experience, but you can't get experience unless you have a job-it's Catch-22 . The term gained currency as the title of a 1961 war novel by Joseph Heller, who referred to an Air Force rule whereby a pilot continuing to fly combat missions without asking for relief is regarded as insane, but is considered sane enough to continue flying if he does make such a request. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. a Catch 22 A Catch 22 is an extremely frustrating situation in which one thing cannot happen until another thing has happened, but the other thing cannot happen until the first thing has happened. There's a Catch 22 in social work. You need experience to get work and you need work to get experience. Note: You can also talk about a Catch 22 situation. It's a Catch 22 situation here. Nobody wants to support you until you're successful but without the support, how can you ever be successful? Note: This expression comes from the novel `Catch 22' (1961), by the American author Joseph Heller, which is about bomber pilots in the Second World War. Their `Catch 22' situation was that any sane person would ask if they could stop flying. However, the authorities would only allow people to stop flying if they were insane. See also: 22, catch Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. a catch-22 situation a dilemma or difficulty from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions. The classic statement of this situation is in Joseph Heller 's novel Catch-22 ( 1961 ), from which the expression is taken: ‘Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. if he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.’ 1997 New Scientist It's a catch-22 situation: you cannot get the job without having the relevant experience and you cannot get the experience without having first done the job. See also: situation Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary (a) catch-22 , a catch-22 situation (informal) a difficult situation from which there is no escape because you need to do one thing before doing a second, and you cannot do the second thing before doing the first: I can’t get a job because I haven’t got any experience, but I can’t get experience until I get a job — it’s a catch-22 situation. Catch-22 is the title of a novel by Joseph Heller, in which the main character pretends to be crazy in order to avoid dangerous situations in war. The authorities say that he cannot be crazy if he is concerned about his own safety. Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary catch-22 n. a directive that is impossible to obey without violating some other, equally important, directive. There was nothing I could do. It was a classic catch-22. McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions catch-22 Situation in which one can’t win because one is trapped by a paradox. The term arose in the 1961 novel of the same name by Joseph Heller. It refers to an air force rule whereby a pilot is considered insane if he continues to fly combat missions without asking for relief, but if he asks for relief he is considered sane enough to continue flying. The term was further popularized by a motion picture and today is used to describe common dilemmas in civilian life. Opera singer Renée Fleming described it well: “For potential engagements, the catch-22 was that it was very hard to get an audition if you didn’t have a manager, and it was almost impossible to get a manager unless you’d won an audition” (The Inner Voice, 2004). See also damned if you do, damned if you don't. The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: 22 a Catch 22 a catch-22 situation all or nothing eat one's cake and have it (too) eat one's cake and have it, too hands are tied (one's) hands are tied your hands are tied worldly desires References in periodicals archive From left: Catch-22 executive producer Grant Heslov with stars George Clooney, Christopher Abbott and Kyle Chandler I have never really cared about what the medium was, I just wanted to do good work; It might be the 'golden age' of television but George Clooney is the first to admit that it takes time to locate the good content. He tells GEMMA DUNN why he found a winner in anti-war satire Catch-22 Yossarian wants to complete his service and live, but his efforts are blocked by Catch-22, a bureaucratic rule that states pilots don't have to fly if they are certified insane, but as being driven mad by fear is a rational response, they must be sane and therefore able to carry on with their missions. Clooney's a real Catch for viewers; Hollywood heart-throb brings classic tale to small screen From left: Catch-22 executive producer Grant Heslov with George Clooney and stars Christopher Abbott and Kyle Chandler I have never really cared about what the medium was, I just wanted to do good work; It might be the 'golden age' of television but George Clooney is the first to admit that it takes time to locate the good content. He tells GEMMA DUNN why he found a winner in Catch-22 Catch-22 is a law defined in various ways throughout the novel. My war of words over risky venture; George Clooney reveals fears at producing and starring in a new adaptation of the famous book Catch-22 Yossarian's only way to avoid the missions is to declare insanity, but the only way to prove insanity is a willingness to embark on more of the highly dangerous bombing runs, thus creating the novel's absurd 'Catch-22.' George Clooney returns to television with 'Catch 22' ""Catch-22" follows a US bombardier named Yossarian who is infuriated that the army keeps raising the number of missions he must fly to be released from duty. George Clooney's 'Catch-22' highlights 'insanity' of war [USA], Jan 13 ( ANI ): George Clooney is all set to return to the television space with 'Catch-22', adaptation of Joseph Heller's classic novel. George Clooney's TV comeback lands at Hulu Chapter Four calls Catch-22 the definitive "postmodern World War II novel;" here, Brett emphasizes the circular nature of a Catch-22 and its ability to override humanity as an early development of postmodern understanding. Brett, Laurel. Disquiet on the Western Front The soldier in combat is trapped within [a] tragic Catch-22. If he overcomes his resistance to killing and kills an enemy soldier in close combat, he is forever burdened with blood guilt, and if he elects not to kill, then the blood guilt of his fallen comrades and the shame of his profession, nation, and cause lie upon him. Thank You for Your Service This amounts to Spunky Seniors Club's Catch-22. Wikipedia describes Catch-22 as a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules. Spunky Seniors Club Finds Getting Noticed the Right Way and by the Right People is Essential for Success No, everything about Catch-22 puts the ball firmly in the court of the director (in this case the American Rachel Chavkin - well done to her), the actors (nine of them playing a multitude of parts) and the creative folk around them. A classy American wartime tale you really must catch and The Graduate, director Mike Nichols set out to tackle Joseph Heller's blackly comic antiwar novel Catch-22, a sprawling, episodic book that many considered unfilmable. Catch-22 University of Arkansas startup Picasolar and Catch-22 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock took home the top overall prizes Wednesday at the 2013 Donald W. Governor's Cup winners announced Sometimes it seems as though life has become more than a Catch-22. It's getting to be Catch-22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. New meaning to phrase `call waiting'
随便看	justify (something) by (doing something) justify (something) to (one) justify to just in case just in time just let me say (just) like riding a bicycle (just) like riding a bike just like that (just) like this/that just my, his, etc. luck just my luck just now just off the boat (just) one of those days just one of those things just (one's) cup of tea just (one's) luck just passing through (just/right) up (one's) street just so just the facts, ma'am just the job just the job/ticket just then