go cold turkey
Meaning
To stop using an addictive substance or habit suddenly and completely, without gradually reducing it.
Origin
Early 20th-century American slang. It refers to the pale, gooseflesh skin (like a plucked turkey) seen during abrupt withdrawal from drugs, then broadened to any sudden quitting.
Notes
Suggests a sudden, tough, all-at-once quit, often implying withdrawal or discomfort. Fairly informal; used for substances (smoking, alcohol) and habits (social media, sugar).
Examples
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After years of smoking a pack a day, he decided to go cold turkey and quit overnight.
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I tried to go cold turkey on social media, but I caved after two days.
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The doctor warned that going cold turkey could be dangerous without medical supervision.
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When she found out she was pregnant, she went cold turkey and stopped drinking immediately.
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He went cold turkey on caffeine, so the first week was full of headaches and fatigue.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as a verb phrase: βgo cold turkey (on X)β or βquit X cold turkey.β Tense changes apply to βgoβ (went/has gone). βCold turkeyβ can act as an adverbial complement.
Synonyms
- quit cold
- stop abruptly
- quit abruptly
- go straight
- abruptly stop
Antonyms
- wean off
- taper off
- cut back gradually