English idiom

cold turkey

Register · Informal CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

to stop a habit or addiction completely and suddenly

Why this phrase?

The image is of suddenly stopping, which leaves the body 'cold' — the goosebumps and chills of withdrawal, with no gradual taper.

Example

“He quit smoking cold turkey and never looked back.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

alive and kicking

still healthy, active, or functioning despite age or difficulty

out and about

away from home and actively going to places or doing ordinary activities

take it easy

to relax and avoid strain

under the weather

Feeling slightly ill or unwell.

at death's door

so seriously ill or injured that death seems close

dead to the world

sleeping so deeply that you are completely unaware of your surroundings

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

markdown