Also please explain what it actually means, and when does one use it ?
2006-07-05 07:23:14 · 8 answers · asked by Featherman 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
Thanks for the good answers .
2006-07-05 08:33:17 · update #1
It originates from the worst book ever written, Catch-22. You see, some cynical, defeatist whiner couldn't take life's little intricacies anymore-- he wanted everything to come to him, to have his cake and to eat it to. So he writes a wartime novel and exaggerates every situation to create the illusion that the whole world is that way-- and the military name for each "no win" situation was dubbed a catch-22.
The perfect modern example is: When you go out looking for your first career job, everyone wants someone with at least 5 years of experience, but how can you gain experience when no one will hire you because you have no experience? It's a catch-22; it makes no sense; you can't win.
2006-07-05 07:48:31 · answer #1 · answered by ishotvoltron 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
The phrase comes from the novel Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. The original catch-22 derived from a rule that allowed a person who was mentally ill to get out of combat duty... but only if he asked to be excused. The catch was, the Army assumed that anyone who was sane would want out of combat duty, and so anyone who asked didn't qualify. The phrase has since come to mean any benefit for which the conditions for qualifying and the conditions for obtaining it are mutually exclusive.
2006-07-05 07:29:48 · answer #2 · answered by D'archangel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The novel "catch 22" by Joseph Heller.
It is a situation where you have two choice both of which will have a very poor outcome
2006-07-05 07:28:18 · answer #3 · answered by alchemthis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Catch 22" comes from the book and movie of the same name. It refers to a situation where no matter what course of action you choose, there is an equally undesireable consequence, especially if it is the same undesireable consequence.
2006-07-05 14:11:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it came from the book "Catch 22"
2006-07-05 07:27:20 · answer #5 · answered by Sunshine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it originated during war time. You may want to look it up on wikipedia for full description but something like if you didn't want to fly a fighter plane then they made you and if you did want to fly the fighter plane then you didn't have to.
It was like if you admitted you were crazy you were sane and if you acted sane then you were crazy.
Book: Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
2006-07-05 07:29:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always thought it referred to a different situation. for example, you need a job to get a car, you need a car to get a job.
?
2006-07-05 17:26:56 · answer #7 · answered by rlms_girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't know where it came from. read the novel by joseph heller.
basically it's when ur screwed if are & screwed if u aren't...similar outcome no matter what u do/are.
2006-07-05 07:29:09 · answer #8 · answered by chloe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋