cold turkey

== English == === Etymology === Various explanations; see Cold turkey § Etymology on Wikipedia. === Pronunciation === === Noun === cold turkey (uncountable) (informal, idiomatic) A sudden and complete withdrawal from a dependent substance, especially a drug. The physiological effects of such a withdrawal. (US military slang, World War I– World War II) Something exposed as a target due to surmountable defense. Synonyms: cold meat, easy target, easy pickings ==== Translations ==== === Adverb === cold turkey (not comparable) (idiomatic) Not gradually; all at once; referring especially to quitting a habit by force of will rather than by a gradual reduction. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === cold turkey (third-person singular simple present cold turkeys, present participle cold turkeying, simple past and past participle cold turkeyed) (informal, intransitive) To undergo sudden and complete withdrawal from a dependent substance, especially a drug. === References ===