Idiom
go cold turkey
Meanings
To stop taking an addictive substance suddenly and completely, without tapering off.
To stop a habit suddenly and completely, rather than reducing it gradually.
Definition
To stop using a substance or habit suddenly and completely, often causing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
To go cold turkey means to quit something abruptly, without gradually reducing it. It is most commonly used for stopping addictive substances like cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs, but it can also describe ending a habit such as social media. Because the change is sudden, it often implies strong cravings or discomfort at first.
Examples
- After ten years of smoking, he decided to go cold turkey.
- My doctor warned me not to go cold turkey without supervision.
- She tried to go cold turkey on energy drinks and got headaches for a week.
- I went cold turkey on social media during finals.
Common mistake
Learners often misuse it for “feeling suddenly cold,” but it means quitting a substance or habit abruptly.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a relaxed, friendly chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of what you have done or a difficult situation.