cold turkey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Intermediate (B2-C1)Informal
Quick answer
What does “cold turkey” mean?
The sudden and complete cessation of a substance one is addicted to, without tapering off.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The sudden and complete cessation of a substance one is addicted to, without tapering off.
More broadly, any abrupt and complete cessation of a habitual behaviour or process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in meaning and usage. No significant difference in application.
Connotations
Often implies a difficult, unpleasant experience. Can imply willpower or a 'tough love' approach.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English media, but common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “cold turkey” in a Sentence
[Subject] + go/quit/stop + cold turkeydo something + cold turkeyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cold turkey” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She decided to cold turkey her sugar addiction.
- He's planning to cold turkey next week.
American English
- She decided to quit cold turkey.
- He went cold turkey on caffeine.
adverb
British English
- He stopped smoking cold turkey.
- She quit cold turkey last month.
American English
- He quit drinking cold turkey.
- She went off the medication cold turkey.
adjective
British English
- It was a cold-turkey approach to quitting.
- The cold-turkey method is tough.
American English
- He chose the cold-turkey approach.
- A cold-turkey quit is intense.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'The company went cold turkey on fossil fuel investments.'
Academic
Used in psychology, medicine, and addiction studies to describe a withdrawal method.
Everyday
Common in discussions about quitting smoking, drinking, or other habits.
Technical
Clinical term for unassisted, abrupt discontinuation of an addictive substance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cold turkey”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cold turkey”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cold turkey”
- Using 'cold turkey' as an adjective only (e.g., 'He is cold turkey'). It is primarily an adverbial phrase or noun phrase.
- Confusing it with the food item in a non-idiomatic context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The exact origin is uncertain. It likely originated in the early 20th century from the comparison of the physical symptoms of drug withdrawal (goosebumps, pallor) to the cold, clammy skin of a plucked turkey.
Yes, informally. For example: 'She cold turkeyed her coffee habit.' However, the more common structures are 'quit/go cold turkey' (verb + adverbial phrase) or 'a cold-turkey approach' (adjective).
No. While originating in addiction contexts, it's now commonly used for any habitual behaviour (e.g., junk food, video games, social media).
For certain substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines, abrupt cessation can cause severe, even life-threatening, withdrawal symptoms (seizures, delirium tremens). Medical supervision is often recommended.
The sudden and complete cessation of a substance one is addicted to, without tapering off.
Cold turkey is usually informal in register.
Cold turkey: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊld ˈtɜːki/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊld ˈtɜːrki/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go cold turkey (primary use).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, eaten cold and plain—it's unappealing and stark, just like the stark, unpleasant experience of quitting something addictive suddenly.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABRUPT CESSATION IS COLD TURKEY (A state of being unpleasantly stark and unprepared).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'to go cold turkey' primarily mean?