Feifei wants a new job but without experience she can't get it. It's an impossible situation but Rob has the perfect phrase to describe her position – unfortunately it won't get her a new job! Learn about this phrase in the latest episode of The English We Speak.
…and hello, it's Rob here too. Oh Feifei, why the glum face?
Oh yes yes, the job – you went for a new job – one you really really wanted. One that you said would be perfect for.
Clearly I am not. Look at this rejection letter – it says I did not have enough experience – how dare they! But if I don't do the job, how do I get the experience?
Oh dear, it sounds like catch-22.
Catch-22? Is that some kind of qualification I need?
Nope, it just describes a situation where you can't win. Basically, you can't do one thing until you have done another thing which you can't do until you have done the first thing.
So it's an impossible situation.
I need my parent's car, but my mum says I need permission from my dad, then my dad says I need permission from my mum. I can't get permission from either. So I'm in a catch-22 situation.
To apply for a short-term student visa to study English in the UK, you have to be able to speak some English but you want to come to England to learn English! It's catch-22 for many potential students.
You're listening to The English We Speak and Rob has told me I'm in a catch-22 situation – that's a situation I cannot win.
Yes Feifei, so you can't get a new job without some experience of doing it but you can't get the experience with doing the job. So it's catch-22!
It's a strange phrase Rob.
Yes, it comes from the title of a book - Catch-22, written by Joseph Heller in 1961 which describes bureaucratic constraints on soldiers in World War II.
But look Feifei, don't be too sad about the job, you've got plenty of experience for doing this job.
That's because I've been here for 40 years!
But we respect you for expertise, especially in one task.
Making the tea. Now could you put the kettle on please?
Oh, I really need a new job.