catch-22
/ˌkætʃ twentiˈtuː/
a paradoxical situation with no escape due to contradictory rules
catch-22 in a sentence
“It's a catch-22: you need experience to get hired, but you need a job to get experience.”
Origin of catch-22
From Joseph Hellers 1961 novel Catch-22' describing paradoxical military regulation
Related Words
cut corners
to do something in the easiest or cheapest way
cut to the chase
to get to the point without wasting time
devil's advocate
one who argues against something for the sake of debate
don't cry over spilled milk
don't waste time worrying about things that can't be changed
elephant in the room
an obvious problem that everyone ignores
get cold feet
to become nervous and hesitate before doing something