cold turkey

¹cold turkey

noun

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

Examples of COLD TURKEY

1. I tried lots of ways to stop smoking, even cold turkey.
2. <my new boss is a cold turkey and definitely not one for chitchat>

First Known Use of COLD TURKEY

1921

Related to COLD TURKEY

Synonyms: cold fish, iceberg, icicle

Related Words: clam, stick, wallflower; prig, snob, snoot, snot, stuffed shirt

Near Antonyms: dear, sweetheart, sweetie

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Rhymes with COLD TURKEY

talk turkey