a wooden nutmeg

dated A fraudulent substitute or imitation. Primarily heard in US. Anyone selling you designer goods at such low prices is definitely peddling wooden nutmegs. The major tax overhaul Congress has been promising is nothing more than a wooden nutmeg—it will benefit no one but a few at the very top, and for everyone else it will remain a convoluted and expensive mess. These hundred dollar bills better not be wooden nutmegs. If they are, my men will come after you.

nutmeg

sports slang Most commonly used in soccer.

1. verbTo strike the ball so that it travels between an opponent's legs. Primarily heard in UK. Miller nutmegs, finds himself all alone in front of the goal—and he scores!

2. noun An instance of striking the ball between an opponent's legs. After a brilliant nutmeg, she took a shot on goal, but the goalie made an excellent save to keep the game tied.

a wooden nutmeg

a false or fraudulent thing. US

A wooden nutmeg was a piece of wood shaped to resemble a nutmeg and fraudulently sold as the real thing. This deception was particularly associated with the inhabitants of Connecticut, giving rise to the nickname ‘the Nutmeg State’.