Catch-22

A paradoxical situation that has no happy ending. A popular movie with Alan Arkin in 1970, Catch-22 came from Joseph Heller's 1961 comical, yet gruesome, best-selling book about pilots in a fictitious World War II setting. The paradox was that no sane pilot would be crazy enough to want to continue flying dangerous missions. The only way a pilot would be grounded is if he were truly crazy, but if he asked to be grounded, he was then considered sane and would not be grounded.

A Catch-22 with software would be trying to install a new version of the OS that conflicts with the current display driver. Although a new version of the display driver may be available for the new version of the OS, the current display driver does not allow the new OS to be installed. Sometimes, a Catch-22 is used synonymously with a "chicken-egg" dilemma (which comes first?), but it is more accurately a conundrum without a winning solution.

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Catch-22

concerned with the frustration of red-tape mechanisms. [Am. Lit.: Catch-22]

See: Bureaucracy

Catch-22

Air Force captain’s appeal to be grounded for insanity not granted because desire to avoid combat proves sanity. [Am. Lit.: Joseph Heller Catch-22]

See: Frustration

Catch-22

pleading insanity to leave army indicates sanity. [Am. Lit.: Catch-22]

See: Irony

Catch-22

claim of insanity to be relieved of military duty proves sanity. [Am. Lit.: Joseph Heller Catch-22]

See: Paradox

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References in periodicals archive

Abbott is perhaps best known in the UK for his supporting role in three seasons of Girls, but Catch-22 is set to boost his profile, and he admits to feeling the pressure of leading a series packed full of more recognisable faces.

Enthralling and thought-provoking; PICKS OF THE DAY

But thanks to Catch-22 - the tricky rule that dictates only a sane man would recognise how crazy it is to keep flying, but only an insane man would carry on doing it - he finds himself in a vicious circle.

DRAMA; Beecham House

The Doc explains to Yoyo his predicament - the Catch-22 of the title.

Catch Clooney's clowning glory

The Doc explains to Yoyo his A-predicament -- the Catch-22 of the title.

Sara Wallis: 'George Clooney more comedy gold than dashing hero in Catch 22'; George Clooney brings plenty of fun to the much-anticipated serious US drama

Any attempt to forfeit his military assignments, however, threatens to put him in violation of Catch-22, a bureaucratic rule stating that a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, whereas a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity.

No catch, I just wanted to do good work; George Clooney tells GEMMA DUNN why he found a winner in anti-war satire Catch-22

"It's hard to find good pieces of material; I read tonnes of c**p, quite honestly, and go, Amal and George Catch-22 UK premiere 'Oh my God, they're going to make this and do a show or a movie.

I have never really cared about what the medium was, I just wanted to do good work; It might be the 'golden age' of television but George Clooney is the first to admit that it takes time to locate the good content. He tells GEMMA DUNN why he found a winner in anti-war satire Catch-22

George said: "I'm very excited to be working with Channel 4 to bring the classic Catch-22 to their channel.

Clooney's a real Catch for viewers; Hollywood heart-throb brings classic tale to small screen

"We got handed six scripts (for Catch-22) that were spectacular, and I thought, 'Well, I'd like to see that show and I'd like to be involved in whatever way I can'.

He tells GEMMA DUNN why he found a winner in Catch-22 GEORGE CLOONEY'S memory of Catch-22 harks back to his school days.

I have never really cared about what the medium was, I just wanted to do good work

It's for this reason that Hollywood actor George Clooney was nervous when his latest project - a retelling of Joseph Heller's Second World War masterpiece, Catch-22 - was pitched to him.

My war of words over risky venture; George Clooney reveals fears at producing and starring in a new adaptation of the famous book Catch-22

IS SUPPLY HOURS ESCAPISM Any attempt to forfeit his military assignments, however, threatens to put him in violation of Catch-22, a bureaucratic rule which states that a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, whereas a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity.

Focusing on absurd; GEORGE CLOONEY RELISHES BRINGING CATCH-22 TO SMALL SCREEN

Christopher Abbott as Yossarian in Catch-22 GEORGE CLOONEY'S memory of Catch-22 harks back to his school days.