COLD TURKEY Definition & Meaning

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cold turkey

[ kohld tur-kee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Informal.

abrupt and complete withdrawal from the use of an addictive substance, as a narcotic drug, alcohol, or tobacco.

cold-turkey

[ kohld-tur-kee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to withdraw from (an addictive substance or a habit) abruptly and completely.

verb (used without object)

to withdraw from an addictive substance or a habit abruptly and completely.

adjective

abrupt and complete:
cold-turkey withdrawal from drugs.

cold turkey

noun

slang.
a method of curing drug addiction by abrupt withdrawal of all doses
the withdrawal symptoms, esp nausea and shivering, brought on by this method

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of cold turkey¹

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; probably from the phrase to talk cold turkey “to speak bluntly about something unpleasant,” variant of to talk turkey; turkey

Origin of cold turkey²

First recorded in 1910–15

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Idioms and Phrases

go cold turkey, Informal.
1. to stop using an addictive substance abruptly and completely.
2. to undergo sudden and complete withdrawal from a habitual activity or behavior pattern.
3. to begin or do something without planning, preparation, or practice.

More idioms and phrases containing cold turkey

Immediate, complete withdrawal from something, especially an addictive substance; also, without planning or preparation. For example, My bad shoulder forced me to quit playing tennis cold turkey , or I'd never done any rock climbing, but decided to try it cold turkey . This term may have come from the earlier expression talk turkey (for blunt speaking). At first used strictly for abrupt withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, it soon was transferred to quitting any habit or activity. [Early 1900s]

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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