Quick answer: “Cold turkey” means stopping an addictive habit suddenly and completely without tapering off.
Cold turkey describes the act of stopping an addictive behaviour — such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs — abruptly and completely, with no gradual reduction. It also refers to the difficult withdrawal period that follows. Literal: cold, uncooked turkey. Figurative: an abrupt, uncomfortable stop with no easing in.
Origin & History
The origin is uncertain, but the most widely accepted explanation links 'cold turkey' to the pale, goosebump-covered skin of someone going through drug or alcohol withdrawal, which resembles the skin of an uncooked turkey taken from the refrigerator. The phrase emerged in American English in the early 20th century.
By the mid-20th century it was firmly established in medical and popular vocabulary to describe abrupt cessation of addictive substances. Today its use has broadened: people speak of quitting social media, sugar, or caffeine cold turkey, although the phrase retains its strongest association with genuinely addictive substances. Reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary catalogue thousands of such figurative expressions, showing how idiomatic meanings take shape over time.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| She decided to quit smoking cold turkey rather than using patches or gum. | Health, stopping smoking |
| He gave up caffeine cold turkey and had severe headaches for a week. | Diet, abrupt withdrawal |
| The doctor advised against going cold turkey on that medication without supervision. | Medical advice, safety |
| After years of heavy drinking, he went cold turkey over the holiday weekend. | Alcohol, recovery |
| I deleted all my social media apps cold turkey and felt anxious for days. | Digital habits, extended use |
| Going cold turkey is effective for some people but can be dangerous with certain substances. | General health information |
How to Use It
Use 'cold turkey' as an adverb after the verb: quit cold turkey, stop cold turkey. Or use 'go cold turkey': he went cold turkey. It is nearly always followed by information about what was stopped, or the context makes it clear. The phrase is informal but widely understood.
Common Mistakes
Mistakes to Avoid
She quit cold-turkey smoking.
She quit smoking cold turkey. — Place 'cold turkey' after the object, not between verb and object.
They decided to go a cold turkey.
They decided to go cold turkey. — Do not add the article 'a'; the phrase has no article in this use.
He stopped eating meat cold turkey, so he saved money.
He stopped eating meat cold turkey. — The phrase implies hardship, so adding a positive result sounds unnatural; use 'abruptly' instead if no difficulty is implied.
Short Dialogue
Tom: Are you still using nicotine patches?
Sara: No, I threw them away last week. I decided to quit cold turkey.
Tom: That takes real willpower. How are you coping?
Sara: It is tough, but I feel better knowing there is nothing in between me and being free of it.
Similar Idioms
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Quick Check: Cold turkey
2 questions — test what you just learned.
1. What does “Cold turkey” mean?
2. Complete the sentence: “She decided to quit smoking _____ rather than using patches or gum.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "cold turkey" mean?
"Cold turkey" means stopping an addictive behaviour — such as smoking, drinking, or using a substance — suddenly and completely, rather than tapering off gradually. It often refers to the difficult withdrawal period that follows.
Where does "cold turkey" come from?
The phrase possibly refers to the pale, goosebump-covered skin of someone in withdrawal, which resembles the skin of a cold, uncooked turkey. It emerged in American English in the early 20th century and became widely used in medical and informal contexts.
Can you give an example of "cold turkey" in a sentence?
"She decided to quit smoking cold turkey rather than using patches." Another: "He gave up caffeine cold turkey and had headaches for a week."
Is "cold turkey" used as a noun or adverb?
It functions as both. As an adverb: 'quit cold turkey'. As a noun phrase: 'go cold turkey'. Both are common. The adverbial use ('quit cold turkey') is especially frequent in everyday speech.
What CEFR level is "cold turkey"?
B2. The connection between a cold turkey (the food) and abrupt withdrawal is not obvious, so it requires upper-intermediate knowledge of idiomatic English to understand without context.
Is "cold turkey" formal or informal?
It is informal but widely understood. It appears in health journalism, everyday conversation, and medical discussions. It would be out of place in formal academic or clinical writing, where 'abrupt cessation' is preferred.
What are common mistakes with "cold turkey"?
A common error is placing 'cold turkey' between verb and object — say 'quit smoking cold turkey', not 'quit cold turkey smoking'. Also avoid adding 'a': the phrase is 'go cold turkey', not 'go a cold turkey'.
What idioms are similar to "cold turkey"?
Related expressions include 'kick the habit', 'go clean', 'cut something out', and 'swear off something'. Unlike 'cold turkey', these do not all imply an abrupt stop — they can also describe a gradual reduction.
Can "cold turkey" refer to things other than addiction?
Yes, informally it can describe stopping any habit or practice abruptly — for example, quitting social media or sugar cold turkey. However, the phrase is most strongly associated with stopping genuinely addictive substances.
How do I practise idioms like "cold turkey"?
Use LexFizz Flash Cards and Flip Tiles. Try writing two sentences — one about quitting something addictive cold turkey, one about a non-addictive habit — to practise both the core and extended uses.