Catch-22

Catch-22 is a term that comes from a situation presented in Joseph Heller's book of the same name. As Heller's character explains it, Catch-22 describes an unwinnable situation. A pilot would be crazy to fly dangerous bombing missions, and therefore, could be grounded on reasons of insanity, if the pilot would request to be grounded. But here comes the catch. If a pilot is sane enough to request to be grounded because he would be crazy to fly more missions, then he is sane because he wants to avoid deadly situations. And if he is sane enough to do that, then he is sane enough to fly more missions

So a Catch-22 was a damned-if-you-do/damned-if-you-don't situation.

Nowadays a catch-22 is any situation in which you cannot win by choosing any course of action. For instance, you can get a raise if you help reduce the expenses, but if you help to reduce the expenses, then your job will be cut.

Ouch.