quit cold turkey
Meaning
To stop doing something (especially an addictive habit) suddenly and completely, without tapering off.
Origin
Early 20th-century American English. “Cold turkey” referred to the pale, clammy look of someone in withdrawal (like cold turkey skin), leading to the sense of quitting abruptly without easing off.
Notes
Common in casual speech, especially for addictions/habits. Emphasizes abruptness and no gradual reduction; can imply the withdrawal is tough or risky for some substances.
Examples
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After years of smoking, he quit cold turkey and threw away all his cigarettes.
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I tried to quit cold turkey, but the headaches made it hard to focus at work.
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Her doctor warned that quitting cold turkey could be risky, so she tapered off instead.
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When the app started affecting his sleep, he quit cold turkey and deleted it that night.
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He quit cold turkey after New Year’s and hasn’t had a drink since.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used with verbs like quit/stop/go: “quit cold turkey,” “stop cold turkey,” “go cold turkey.” Often takes an object: “quit smoking cold turkey.” Fixed phrase; rarely pluralized/altered.
Synonyms
- quit abruptly
- stop suddenly
- go cold turkey
- kick (a habit)
Antonyms
- taper off
- wean off
- cut back gradually