22

a situation where one thing must happen in order to cause another thing to happen, but because the first thing does not happen the second thing cannot happen If you don't have a place to stay, you can't get a job and with no job, you can't get an apartment. It's a Catch 22 situation.

A no-win dilemma or paradox, similar to damned if I do, damned if I don't. For example, You can't get a job without experience, but you can't get experience unless you have a job-it's Catch-22 . The term gained currency as the title of a 1961 war novel by Joseph Heller, who referred to an Air Force rule whereby a pilot continuing to fly combat missions without asking for relief is regarded as insane, but is considered sane enough to continue flying if he does make such a request.