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  1. Where does the phrase 'cold turkey' come from? | Merriam-Webster

    Ever quit something cold turkey and wonder why you've quit it in such a manner? On the serious side, the phrase is often used when the quitting brings physical symptoms of withdrawal, as with heroin or …

  2. This Is the Origin of the Phrase "Quit Cold Turkey"

    Apr 29, 2025 · Broadly speaking, quit cold turkey or go cold turkey means to stop doing something completely, usually an addictive habit. The most common example you’ll likely hear is that someone …

  3. COLD TURKEY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    go cold turkey Six years ago, she went cold turkey on (= stopped completely) a 60-a-day smoking habit. US She had been trying to quit cold turkey without the support of a doctor.

  4. cold turkey - Idioms by The Free Dictionary

    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, …

  5. Cold Turkey – Idiom, Origin and Meaning - GRAMMARIST

    What Does Cold Turkey Mean? Cold turkey is probably one of the most common idioms, and it describes the sudden and complete termination of a bad habit or addiction.

  6. Why Do We Say ‘Going Cold Turkey’? - Word Smarts

    In this sense, the expression comes from a combination of the word “cold,” meaning “straightforward,” and the idiom “ talk turkey,” meaning “to speak frankly and get down to business.” “Cold turkey” was …

  7. Cold turkey - Meaning, Origin and Usage

    Mar 12, 2025 · Discover the meaning and origin of 'cold turkey' idiom. Learn how this phrase describes abrupt cessation of habits and its historical background.

  8. Cold Turkey” Meaning, Origin and Examples - 7ESL

    Feb 12, 2020 · “Cold turkey” means stopping a habit or addiction abruptly and completely, without gradually reducing or using aids to help. It is often used in the context of quitting drugs, smoking, or …

  9. COLD TURKEY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

    Cold turkey is the unpleasant physical reaction that people experience when they suddenly stop taking a drug that they have become addicted to.

  10. What Does "Cold Turkey" Really Mean? - bradleysfinediner.com

    Mar 6, 2025 · Cold turkey means to quit or abstain from doing or using something. It can be a reference to anything but it is often used when quitting something addictive like illegal drugs, coffee, chocolate, …