catnip
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of catnip
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Parts of this road curl in on themselves into tight, technical twisties — catnip to car enthusiasts and motorcyclists.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The companies’ business model has been like catnip to investors because unlike drilling for oil, which requires huge upfront investments, leasing land is capital light.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
And Citizen Vigilante is a disturbing film that is catnip for the internet’s worst people, Rebecca Onion explains.
From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2026
One is the sheer complexity of the federal budget and its absurd lack of transparency; this is catnip for conspiracy theorists.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026
She was preparing a catnip tea to send to the master.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
