Cold Turkey Definition

noun
Abruptly and totally.
Webster's New World
Immediate, complete withdrawal from something on which one has become dependent, such as an addictive drug.
American Heritage Medicine
In a frank, blunt, or matter-of-fact way.
To talk cold turkey about our chances.
Webster's New World
Without preparation or preliminaries.
Webster's New World
The physiological effects of such a withdrawal.
Wiktionary
adverb
Immediately and without gradual reduction of use.
Quit smoking cold turkey.
American Heritage Medicine
Frankly or directly; without mincing words.
Spoke to her staff cold turkey about the likelihood of layoffs.
American Heritage

Origin of Cold Turkey

  • Probably from the serving of cold roast turkey as a dish needing no preparation

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From the goose bumps that people get when they're cold turkey.

    From Wiktionary

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