cold turkey

Various explanations; see Cold turkey § Etymology on Wikipedia.

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cold turkey (uncountable)

1. Sudden and complete withdrawal from a dependent substance, especially a drug.
2. The physiological effects of such a withdrawal.
3. (US military slang, World War I– World War II) Something exposed as a target due to surmountable defense.[1]

   Synonyms: cold meat, easy target, easy pickings

cold turkey (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) Not gradually; all at once. Refers especially to quitting a habit by force of will rather than by a gradual reduction.

   It is difficult, but possible to quit smoking cold turkey.

   • 2012 April 4, Sam Anderson, “Just One More Game ...”, in The New York Times Magazine‎:

     I knew that, if I had daily access to video games, I would spend literally every day playing them, forever. So I cut myself off, more or less cold turkey, and as a result I was more or less happy and productive.

   • 2023 October 5, Rich Pelley, “Joan Baez: ‘I talk to trees to get answers. They give it to you cold turkey’”, in The Guardian, UK:

     Joan Baez:: ‘I talk to trees to get answers. They give it to you cold turkey’.