In layman's terms it pretty much means "Damned if you do and damned if you don't" either way you're gonna get screwed.
Season 3, Episode 17: Catch-22
In the ABC TV show "Lost"by J.J. Abrams

Desmond can see the future and his latest vision suggests that his girlfriend Penny will crash-land onto the island. The vision also suggests that Charlie will die if he comes along with Desmond to rescue her, but Charlie must come along to make the vision come true.
(Season Three: Original Air Date: 18 April 2007)
by bubblybug May 8, 2007
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see Catch-22
Catch-22
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A ska band from a small town in New Jersey. Recently played their last show at Bamboozle '07. Very Good Band.
I skanked at the Catch 22 show last week
by rbfreak May 8, 2007
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See Paradox.
Or as Bart Simpson would say, "You're damned if ya' do, and you're damned if ya' don't."
You need to jump into the ocean to put out the flames on your head. But if you jump into the ocean, the giant squid will suck your guts out.
by Poster Nutbag June 5, 2003
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A plethora of diseases a man or woman could catch from an undesirable man or woman
Don't have sex with him it's a CATCH 22
by SMD111 July 12, 2017
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A "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, where there is no right choice. See: Kobayashi Maru.
Being White is a Catch-22. If you participate in a different culture, that's cultural appropriation... but if you don't, you're not being inclusive. If you move into an urban area, you're part of the gentrification problem... but if you move out of an urban area, you're part of the "white flight" problem. If you don't pay attention to skin color, you're ignoring racism... but if you do, you're racist. There is no right choice.
by Straight White Homeschooling D December 4, 2020
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A government regulation that pretty much is an oxymoron, because it contradicts itself.
The term "Catch-22" first came out in the book by the same name.
by IrishRepublicanArmy February 8, 2004
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