Meaning of chicken and egg | Babel Free

Definitions

A situation or case in which it is difficult to distinguish cause and effect, having a circular character.

attributive, plural, plural-only, usually

Examples

“From present⟳ observation, A and B are needed to make⟳ C, and C is needed to make⟳ A and B. This chemical cycle has, again, a “chicken and egg” character.”

“Every other show⟳ on TV has a guest panel of comics, so why can’t a drag⟳ queen tell⟳ the latest Apprentice contestant: “You’re fired”? Or a mime taste⟳ the cakes on the Bake Off’s An Extra Slice? The answer⟳ is usually that we aren’t in the same network because of cabaret’s lack of presence outside of the live⟳ space – the classic chicken-and-egg of TV success.”

“When it comes to fighting for democracy and climate change⟳ – two of Jamie Raskin’s top priorities – the whole thing feels a bit like⟳ a game of chicken and egg to the Democratic congressman.”

CEFR level