But why turkey, and why cold? The most popular theory was repeated by the San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen in 1978: "It derives from the hideous combination of goosepimples [sic] and what William Burroughs calls 'the cold burn' that addicts suffer as they kick the habit."

If someone goes cold turkey, they completely and suddenly stop taking a drug or other substance that they depend on. Going cold turkey may cause serious withdrawal symptoms . I've decided to go cold turkey on the cigarettes again.

To stop doing or using something abruptly and completely. Most commonly said of drug, alcohol, or tobacco use, it can also refer to any bad habit. I tried quitting smoking for several years, using nicotine patches, gums, and even hypnotherapy. Eventually, I just had to go cold turkey and rely on my own willpower.

COLD TURKEY definition: 1. the period of extreme suffering that comes immediately after a person has stopped taking a drug…. Learn more.

The meaning of COLD TURKEY is abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug; also : the symptoms experienced by a person undergoing withdrawal from a drug. How to use cold turkey in a sentence.

The idiom “go cold turkey” means to stop doing something abruptly and completely, without any gradual reduction or preparation. It is most commonly used in reference to quitting addictive substances, such as drugs or alcohol, but it can also be used to describe quitting any habit, such as smoking or overeating.

GO COLD TURKEY definition: to stop using an addictive substance abruptly and completely | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples

When drug addicts go cold turkey they experience a period of extreme suffering. He went cold turkey on his drinking habit two years ago and hasn’t had a drink since. If you are unable to control your habit, consider going cold turkey. To cure his addiction to video games, he decided to go cold turkey and gave his entire collection away. The ...

If someone goes cold turkey, they completely and suddenly stop taking a drug or other substance that they depend on. Going cold turkey may cause serious withdrawal symptoms . I've decided to go cold turkey on the cigarettes again.

abruptly and completely: to withdraw cold turkey from a drug. without preparation: He gave the speech cold turkey. cold--tur•key, adj.: cold-turkey withdrawal.