phrase
Catch-22
A no-win situation whose escape clauses contradict each other.
Origin
From Joseph Heller's 1961 novel about WWII bomber pilots. The original Catch-22: a pilot can be grounded for insanity, but to be grounded he must request it โ and requesting it proves he is sane enough to fly. The phrase rapidly escaped the book into general usage.
Modern usage
Standard vocabulary for circular bureaucracy and impossible requirements. 'You need experience to get the job, but you need the job to get experience โ classic Catch-22.'
In the wild
You can't get the visa without an address, and you can't rent an address without a visa โ Catch-22.โ common usage
Tags
paradox
bureaucracy