Nutmeg means: In soccer: passing the ball through the legs of an opposing player. A humiliation when done in space.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
nutmeg
In soccer: passing the ball through the legs of an opposing player.
ˈnʌt.meɡDocumented since 1970s1970sGen XhistoricalCurrent187 viewsLast reviewed Sep 6, 2026＋ Add a definition
Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026
Etymology timeline
Born ~1970 · 1 year of recorded useBoomer / counterculture eraSee decade cohort →
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
Got some potatoes marinating ahead of roasting for dinner this evening. Lemon juice + zest, basil, garlic, nutmeg, S&P, olive oil.
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BlueskyMay 2026
Re. the Gentlemen's Relish discourse of a few weeks ago, I just had this on bread and - dare I say - it's better: - butter - anchovies - black pepper - ground nutmeg Simple as that.
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BlueskyMay 2026
Nag Nutmeg Naming Napping Nog Nothi- Oohhhhhh....
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BlueskyMay 2026
Trying to grate a tiny stub of nutmeg - leading to the bloody custard tart incident.
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BlueskyMay 2026
First May moth trap: 34 moths, 19 species, 6 NFY & 1 NFG (the Common White Wave). Here’s a few of my favourites; the Pale Tussock (and its furry socks), the Light Brocade, the Flame Shoulder & the Large Nutmeg #teammoth
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Definitions
#1·Apr 26, 2026
In soccer: passing the ball through the legs of an opposing player. A humiliation when done in space.
"Got nutmegged in the first minute."
Origin: British football slang from the 1970s; possibly Cockney rhyming slang ("nutmegs" = legs).
For parents
Nutmeg means: In soccer: passing the ball through the legs of an opposing player. A humiliation when done in space.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
nutmeg means: In soccer: passing the ball through the legs of an opposing player. A humiliation when done in space.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Heard in the wild
“Got some potatoes marinating ahead of roasting for dinner this evening. Lemon juice + zest, basil, garlic, nutmeg, S&P, olive oil.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Re. the Gentlemen's Relish discourse of a few weeks ago, I just had this on bread and - dare I say - it's better: - butter - anchovies - black pepper - ground nutmeg Simple as that.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Nag Nutmeg Naming Napping Nog Nothi- Oohhhhhh....”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Trying to grate a tiny stub of nutmeg - leading to the bloody custard tart incident.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“First May moth trap: 34 moths, 19 species, 6 NFY & 1 NFG (the Common White Wave). Here’s a few of my favourites; the Pale Tussock (and its furry socks), the Light Brocade, the Flame Shoulder & the Large Nutmeg #teammoth”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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Show 7 more dictionary-style senses (imported)
#2·May 2, 2026
A small moth, , feeding on plants and native to the Northern Hemisphere.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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#4·May 2, 2026
An evergreen tree () cultivated in the East Indies for its spicy seeds.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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#5·May 2, 2026
To play the ball between the legs of (an opponent).
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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#6·May 2, 2026
The aromatic seed of this tree, used as a spice.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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#8·May 2, 2026
The playing of the ball between the legs of an opponent.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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Other words near "nutmeg" (N)
nutcracker pillednutcracker sznNutcrack Nightnutilnutjobbernutmeatnutraloafnutrianutridernutsedgenuttingnutting truck
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Semantically related
- panna71%
Same as nutmeg — a ball through the legs. From Surinamese/Dutch street football culture; preferred term in panna-football tournaments.
- leg-breaker59%
(soccer) A tackle or other on-field maneuver capable of breaking a player's leg.
- soccer58%
(Australian rules football) To kick the football directly off the ground, without using one's hands.