catch 22

[clever_one]

just what exactly is a "catch 22" situation? and where does the saying come from?

[andy hughes]

A 'Catch 22' is a double whammy situation. For example - "Looking for a job? We only take people with experience. Looking for experience? Get a job!" That is a classic 'Catch 22' example - there are plenty more out there. The phrase comes from the novel of the same name by Joseph Heller, but I don't know if the phrase comes from the novel, or Heller knew the phrase and used it as his novel's title -anyone know?

[WaldoMcFroog]

'Catch 22' as an expression originated with the book, Andy. In the book, you could only get invalided out of the airforce if you were mad. Someone who wanted to be invalided out was clearly sane... etc.

[incitatus]

Yes, though it was based on an airforce regulation...cant remember the number but it was something like clause 18.....Great book though. Remind me, who was the character who kept ditching his plane, and then rowed to sweded...was it orfe?

[mikewith]

Incitatus - that was Pilot Captain Orr. Any list of favourite characters must surely include Nately, Nately's Wh*re and Nately's Wh*re's Kid Sister. And Milo. And Major Major. Oh hang it, the whole lot of them. I always wanted to be Yossarian when I grew up.

There's an Answerbank article on Catch 22 at: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Article.go?id=2342

[andy hughes]

Thanks Waldo, it's a novel I've never read, although not for any special reason - maybe i should give it a go.