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Meaning of "catch-22" in the English dictionary

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DICTIONARY
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ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD CATCH-22

From the title of a novel (1961) by the US writer J. Heller (1923–99).
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF CATCH-22

catch-22 play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF CATCH-22

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Catch-22 is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES CATCH-22 MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Catch-22

Catch-22 is a satirical novel by the American author Joseph Heller. He began writing it in 1953; the novel was first published in 1961. It is set during World War II from 1942 to 1944. It is frequently cited as one of the greatest literary works of the twentieth century. It uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, describing events from the point of view of different characters. The separate storylines are out of sequence so that the timeline develops along with the plot. The novel follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th Squadron is based on the island of Pianosa, in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Italy. The novel looks into the experiences of Yossarian and the other airmen in the camp. It focuses on their attempts to keep their sanity in order to fulfill their service requirements so that they may return home. The phrase "Catch-22" has entered the English language, referring to a type of unsolvable logic puzzle.

Definition of catch-22 in the English dictionary

The definition of catch-22 in the dictionary is a situation in which a person is frustrated by a paradoxical rule or set of circumstances that preclude any attempt to escape from them. Other definition of catch-22 is a situation in which any move that a person can make will lead to trouble.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE CATCH-22

catch one´s breath
catch one´s death
catch oneself on
catch out
catch phrase
catch pit
catch points
catch question
catch the sun
catch up
catch-all
catch-as-catch-can
catchable
catchcries
catchcry
catcher
catcher´s mitt
catchflies
catchfly
catchier

Synonyms and antonyms of catch-22 in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «catch-22» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF CATCH-22

Find out the translation of catch-22 to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of catch-22 from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «catch-22» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

搭上-22
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

catch- 22
570 millions of speakers

English

catch-22
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

पकड़ो -22
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

قبض -22
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

поймать - 22
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

Catch-22
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

ধরা 22
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

catch- 22
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Menangkap-22
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Zwickmühle
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

キャッチ-22
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

잡기 (22)
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Nyekel-22
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

bắt -22
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

பிடிக்க -22
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

झेल -22
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

22´yi yakala
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

catch- 22
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

Paragraf 22
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

зловити - 22
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

prinde - 22
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

catch- 22
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

vang -22
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

moment 22
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

catch- 22
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of catch-22

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «CATCH-22»

The term «catch-22» is regularly used and occupies the 56.702 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Regularly used
74
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «catch-22» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of catch-22
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «catch-22».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «CATCH-22» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «catch-22» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «catch-22» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about catch-22

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «CATCH-22»

Discover the use of catch-22 in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to catch-22 and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Catch-22
Catch-22 is like no other novel we have ever read. It has its own style, its own rationale, its own extraordinary character. It moves back and forth from hilarity to horror. It is outrageously funny and strangely affecting.
‎2001
2
Catch-22: 50th Anniversary Edition
This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction by Christopher Buckley; personal essays on the genesis of the novel by the author; a wealth of critical responses and reviews by Norman ...
Joseph Heller, 2010
3
Closing Time: The Sequel to Catch-22
In Closing Time, Joseph Heller returns to the characters of Catch-22, now coming to the end of their lives and the century, as is the entire generation that fought in World War II: Yossarian and Milo Minderbinder, the chaplain, and such ...
Joseph Heller, 2010
4
Catch-22: antiheroic antinovel
Describes the background of Catch-22, discusses its themes, and looks at its critical reception
Stephen W. Potts, 1989
5
Reading 'Catch-22'
The book offers a thorough summary and analysis of the plot of Catch-22, addresses important characters such as Colonel Cathcart, Lieutenant Scheisskopf, Milo Minderbinder, Major Major, and Doc Daneeka, and explains the various ways in ...
Paul McDonald, 2012
6
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller, New Edition
When it was first published in 1961, the novel not only became a modern-day classic, but it also introduced the Catch-22 catchphrase in
Harold Bloom, 2009
7
Catch-22: Shmoop Literature Guide
These interactive study guides will help you discover and rediscover some of the greatest works of all time. For more info, check out http://www.shmoop.com/literature/
Shmoop, 2010
8
Coping With Depression: From Catch-22 to Hope
This book conveys how the symptoms of depression impede all the things depressed persons must do to recover, thus defusing self-criticism while encouraging patients to take satisfaction in small steps toward improvement.
Jon G. Allen, 2007
9
Joseph Heller's Catch-22
Discusses the writing of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Includes critical essays on the work and a brief biography of the author.
Harold Bloom, 2009
10
Catch-22 (SparkNotes Literature Guide)
Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles.
Joseph Heller, SparkNotes Editors, 2002

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «CATCH-22»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term catch-22 is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Finch aids Yorkshire's juggling act with the weather
It's a catch-22, if we get them nine-down we'll be cursing, but I think Galey's made exactly the right decision there." Andrew Miller is a former ... «ESPNcricinfo.com, Jul 15»
2
Why The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Are Proving That Greatness Is A …
We're working diligently to get into the black, and that means we have to invest into the program, but it's a catch-22 because we have to cover ... «Forbes, Jul 15»
3
Oil prices dive below $51 as Iran deal looms
That presents a Catch-22 for Iran, whose economy could really use the influx in oil revenue. If it pumps oil too quickly, that could hurt the price of ... «WMTW Portland, Jul 15»
4
In crisis, Chanel becomes more valuable than cash
So his shop is stuck in a Catch-22: He will take only cash, but none of his customers can access enough to purchase his goods. “Everyone is on ... «Washington Post, Jul 15»
5
Powerball Lottery Changes the Odds, For Better AND Worse
Kind of a Catch-22, lotto-style. So more people winning less is going to be the new strategy. Share your thoughts on the new rules, which go ... «WTNH Connecticut News, Jul 15»
6
Tampa attorney loses a round in bid to unmask anonymous online …
... no surprise, Thomson said the requirement to provide evidence up-front to support her case against an anonymous critic sets up a Catch-22. «Tampabay.com, Jul 15»
7
Two run for Clinton School Board re-election
“It's a catch-22 situation always because if I had my choice I'd rather have Missey in that position, because I know how she reacts and I ... «Clinton Herald, Jul 15»
8
Riverdale Farm welcomes Cabbagetown Farmers' Market
“I think it was a catch-22 where the city took over the market, and then the community stopped coming out because they didn't feel like it was a ... «insideTORONTO.com, Jul 15»
9
Failure of Minsk-2 and the Belarusian Presidential Election
A Catch-22 situation prevails. David Marples, special to Belarus Digest. David is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of ... «Belarus Digest, Jul 15»
10
Is Bronx DA to Blame for Innocent Teen's Death?
The Catch-22 erected by the prosecutor was formidable, symmetrical, and complete: Accept the deal and go home, with a criminal record. «WhoWhatWhy / RealNewsProject, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Catch-22 [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/catch-22>. Apr 2024 ».
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