im usually good with sayings but im stumped.
2007-02-19 09:00:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
Catch-22 is a situation in which a desired outcome or solution is impossible to attain because of a set of inherently illogical rules or conditions.
This word was established by the book Catch-22 by Joseph Heller in 1961. In this book, the paradox was that no sane pilot would be crazy enough to want to continue flying dangerous missions. The only way a pilot would be grounded is if he were truly crazy, but if he asked to be grounded, he was then considered sane and would not be grounded.
Today, we use this word to describe situations where there is no way out.
2007-02-19 09:14:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a saying that comes from the novel, "Catch-22" by Joseph Hellerman.
The book takes place in Africa in WWII, and involves a pilot in a B-25 bomber squadron. The pilot wants to get out of the war, so he gets the idea that the only way to get disqualified from flying is to tell the squadron doctor that he's crazy. He does this, and is told by the doc that because he was sane enough to realize he was crazy he wasn't really crazy, so he was returned to duty. This was a "catch" that Hellerman called "Catch-22," as in 22 of many ways the Army had to keep you in the war.
2007-02-19 17:07:25 · answer #2 · answered by Team Chief 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catch-22 (n.) A situation in which a desired outcome or solution is impossible to attain because of a set of inherently illogical rules or conditions
Catch-22 (n.) A situation or predicament characterized by absurdity or senselessness.
Catch-22 (n.) A contradictory or self-defeating course of action:“The Catch-22 of his administration was that every grandiose improvement scheme began with community dismemberment
2007-02-19 17:06:06 · answer #3 · answered by Erin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The source is the book by Joseph Heller mentioned above. It was also a funny movie, if reading's not your thing.
I do want to point out that hammy's simple example is flawed. It's not enough for there to be an obstacle in your path, it has to be an actual paradox. Building off of hammy's example:
In order to get a job, you need a car. In order to get a car you need money. In order to get money, you need a job. In order to get a job, you need a car.
2007-02-21 04:28:18 · answer #4 · answered by MD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
simply put.....say you need a job.....but you dont have a car. if you had a car you could get a job....thats a catch 22. not being able to do one thing because something else keeps you from it.
2007-02-19 17:17:55 · answer #5 · answered by hammy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the one bad thing about something that sounds wonderful
2007-02-19 17:45:28 · answer #6 · answered by War Veteran 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋