expression
everyone has their favorite; pick the right thing to please someone
Proverb meaning that people are easily pleased when given what they love most, just as cats love catnip and courtesans love gold coins. Often used to suggest giving the right incentive or treat to win someone over.
彼は甘いものに目がないから、ケーキをあげれば猫にまたたびお女郎に小判だよ。
He has a sweet tooth, so giving him cake is like catnip for cats and gold coins for courtesans—he'll be delighted.
部下のやる気を引き出すには、猫にまたたびお女郎に小判で、適切な報酬を用意することが大切だ。
To motivate your subordinates, it's important to prepare the right rewards—just like catnip for cats and gold coins for courtesans.
Means 'pearls before swine'—giving something valuable to someone who doesn't appreciate it. In contrast, 猫にまたたびお女郎に小判 is about giving the *right* thing that the recipient loves.
A traditional Japanese proverb combining two parallel phrases: 猫にまたたび (catnip for cats) and お女郎に小判 (gold coins for courtesans), both illustrating the idea of giving someone exactly what they desire.