Dictionary
1cold turkey
noun
: the act of stopping a bad habit (such as taking drugs) in a sudden and complete way
Full Definition of COLD TURKEY
1
: abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug; also : the symptoms experienced by a person undergoing withdrawal from a drug
2
: unrelieved blunt language or procedure
3
: a cold aloof person
— cold–turkey transitive verb
See cold turkey defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of COLD TURKEY
1921
Rhymes with COLD TURKEY
2cold turkey
adverb
Definition of COLD TURKEY
: all at once : abruptly: as a : without a period of gradual adjustment, adaptation, or withdrawal <quit smoking cold turkey> b : without preparation <a new player who started the season cold turkey>
First Known Use of COLD TURKEY
1941
Medical Dictionary
cold turkey
noun cold tur·key \-ˈtər-kē\
Medical Definition of COLD TURKEY
: abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug; also : the symptoms experienced by one undergoing withdrawal from a drug
—cold turkey adverb or transitive verb
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