catnip

[kat-nip]

noun

1. a plant, Nepeta cataria, of the mint family, having egg-shaped leaves containing aromatic oils that are a cat attractant.

catnip

/ ˈkætˌnɪp /

noun

1. another name for catmint

Word History and Origins

Origin of catnip¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1705–15; cat ( def. ) + nip, variant of Middle English nep “catnip,” variant of Old English nepte, from Medieval Latin nepta, variant of Latin nepeta

Example Sentences

If such tales are catnip down under, any doubts over Stokes' fitness will put a further spring in the baggy green step.

From BBC

Losing time sounds like it should slot neatly into a ticking-clock suspense film, but it never achieves liftoff the way “Memento” turned an amnesiac’s daily struggle into catnip.

From Los Angeles Times

“When the Going Was Good” is catnip for those of us still addicted to magazines, who still harbor the delusion that we’ll get to that pile on the table as soon as we can.

From Los Angeles Times

Both artists are perennial Grammy favourites, and their virtuoso ballad will be catnip to voters.

From BBC

The third and fourth episodes are premium catnip — the third being the chanciest, since it's a nearly 50-minute look at a sketch that runs five minutes and 42 seconds.

From Salon