Catch-22

Meaning

A paradoxical situation where escape depends on the condition you cannot meet.

Usage

Used to describe unsolvable bureaucratic dilemmas.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Title of Joseph Heller's 1961 novel depicting absurd rules.

Has entered English as shorthand for circular reasoning since the novel.