Definder - what does the word mean?

What is Catch-22?

Also known as a vicious cycle - two or more conditions require the other conditions to be fulfilled, but these other conditions also require the original condition to be fulfilled. In simple terms, this means neither can get fulfilled without the other. A needs B needs A.

So I need a key to open this door, and the key is beyond that same door? Damn, this is one big Catch 22.

👍1881 👎295


Catch-22 - meme gif

Catch-22 meme gif

Catch-22 - video

loading

Catch-22 - what is it?

1)A situation in which a desired outcome or solution is impossible to attain because of a set of inherently illogical rules or conditions.

2) A contradictory or self-defeating course of action.

3) Novel by Joseph Heller.

"You're wasting your time," Doc Daneeka was forced to tell him.
"Can't you ground someone's who's crazy?"

"Oh sure, I have to. There's a rule saying I have to ground anyone who's crazy."

"Then why don't you ground me. Ask Clevinger."

"Clevinger? Where is Clevinger? You find Clevinger and I'll ask him."

"Then ask any of the others. They'll tell you how crazy I am."

"They're crazy."

"Then why don't you ground them?"

"Why don't they ask me to ground them?"

"Because they're crazy, that's why."

"Of course they're crazy," Doc Daneeka replied. "I just told you they're crazy didn't I? And you can't let crazy people decide whether you're crazy or not can you?"

Yossarian looked at him soberly and tried another approach. "Is Orr crazy?"
"He sure is," Doc Daneeka said.

"Can you ground him?"

"I sure can but first he has to ask me to. That's part of the rule."

"Then why doesn't he ask you to?"

"Because he's crazy," Doc Daneeka said. "He has to be crazy to keep flying combat missions after all the close calls he's had. Sure I can ground Orr. But first he has to ask me to."

"That's all he has to do to be grounded?"

"That's all. Let him ask me."

"And then you can ground him?" Yossarian asked.

"No, then I can't ground him."

"You mean there's a catch?"

"Sure there is a catch," Doc Daneeka replied. "Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy."

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, that specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane, he had to fly them. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of the clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.
"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.

"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka replied.

👍2907 👎425


What does "Catch-22" mean?

Awesomeness in 2 forms:
1. The book (as previously defined).
2. The ska band- amazing both live and in your cd player. Wonderful mosh-full-ness, skanking, and hyperness.

1. I read Catch-22 this summer. It was incredible.
2. I saw Catch-22 live this summer. It was incredible.

👍49 👎79


Catch-22 - what does it mean?

A government regulation that pretty much is an oxymoron, because it contradicts itself.

The term "Catch-22" first came out in the book by the same name.

👍53 👎75


Catch-22 - meaning

A "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, where there is no right choice. See: Kobayashi Maru.

Being White is a Catch-22. If you participate in a different culture, that's cultural appropriation... but if you don't, you're not being inclusive. If you move into an urban area, you're part of the gentrification problem... but if you move out of an urban area, you're part of the "white flight" problem. If you don't pay attention to skin color, you're ignoring racism... but if you do, you're racist. There is no right choice.

👍29 👎13


Catch-22 - definition

see Catch-22

Catch-22

👍67 👎61


Catch-22 - slang

The only way to be dismissed from the military is to be crazy and to ask to be dismissed. Catch-22 states that if you ask to be dismissed from the military, you are not crazy. Catch-22 meant so much more than that, it was the excuse used for every insane order that the officers would give to the troops, was used for every justification. The best definition of Catch-22 is what the old women told Yossarian when he returned to Italy to search for Nately's whore. She told him MPs had come into the whorehouse and arrested everyone, and as justification they had used Catch-22. She then said "Catch-22 means they are allowed to do anything that you can't stop them from doing." There are not 21 other catches, Catch-22 is the only catch that is ever needed.

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind... 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.

👍71 👎61


Catch-22

A catch-22 is not a situation in which both choices lead to undesirable outcomes. That is called a lose-lose or no-win situation. A catch-22 situation CAN be a lose-lose, but it could also be a win-win or win-lose.

A catch-22 situation is one in which the solution is impossible given the cyclic nature of the premises.

The logic is as follows:

1. If X, then Y and Z
2. If Y, then not Z
3. Not Y or not Z
4. Not Y and Z
5. Therefore, not X.

Many people use this logical terminology as commonplace vernacular while using it incorrectly and not understanding the origin.

1. If a person is excused from flying, that must be because he is both insane and requests an evaluation.
2. If a person is insane (I), he should not realize that he is, and would have no reason to request an evaluation.
3. Since an insane person would not request an evaluation, it follows that all people must either not be insane, or not request an evaluation.
4. Since all people must either not be insane, or not request an evaluation, it follows that no person is both insane and requests an evaluation.
5. Since a person may be excused from flying only if he is both insane and requests an evaluation, but no person can be both insane and request an evaluation, it (therefore) follows that no person can be excused from flying.

This is the logical argument and substituted form of a Catch-22.

👍59 👎29


Catch-22

catch-22 has 3 definitions
1. A situation where both choices would have negative impacts on oneself.
2.An excellent and witty book about WWII
3.A extremely awesome ska band.

one:Dude, what a catch-22 we're in!
two:did you read that excellent book, Catch-22 yet?
Three: Sweet man! I'm going to the Catch-22 concert this april!

👍311 👎187


Catch-22

The word Catch-22 was coined from the Joeseph Heller novel "Catch-22", a humorous satire about WWII pilots. Catch-22 is used when pilots try to get out of bombing duty. It is military law that anyone insane is allowed to be ejected from the army on honorary-leave. However, if the pilot asks to be ejected because he is insane, that shows personal concern for his own safety, and thusly he must not be insane, and connot leave. This ensured that all pilots could not get out of the military on charges of insanity. There are no other catches, just Catch-22.

Today, Cath-22 generally refers to:

1. A situation which will deal negative results no matter what choice is made.
2. The WWII book which deals with this catch and carries the same title.
3. The rock band

1. "If I leave, my parents are going to kill me, but if I don't, my girlfriend will dump me. This is a real Catch-22."
2. You should read Catch-22 by Joeseph Heller. It's very funny.
3. I just saw Catch-22 live last night!

👍761 👎365