go cold turkey

USAGE SUMMARY

"go cold turkey" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe the abrupt cessation of an activity or habit, usually one that the person finds difficult to give up. For example, you could say, "I'm trying to quit smoking, so I'm going cold turkey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You need to go cold turkey.

The Guardian - Opinion

He had to go cold turkey.

The Guardian - Opinion

"You can't expect me to go cold turkey," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

"You don't make drug addicts go cold turkey," Mr. Shiller said.

The New York Times

I decided to go cold turkey for a bit and get out of the city.

Independent

In short, the feds told Perky Jerky to go cold turkey.

The New York Times

"He decided we needed to go cold turkey," Ms. Walsh said, sounding a little disappointed.

The New York Times

If you are addicted to heroin you have to give it up completely, go cold turkey.

The Guardian

"You can tell an alcoholic to go cold turkey and that helps with the addiction.

The Guardian - Sport

Sometimes I have to switch it off and go cold turkey.

The Guardian - Music

I try and go cold turkey when I'm on holiday but have terrible withdrawal symptoms.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "go cold turkey" when you want to emphasize a difficult or challenging abrupt cessation. For less intense situations, consider alternatives like "stop immediately" or "quit abruptly".

Common error

While "go cold turkey" is widely understood, it's an informal idiom. In professional or academic writing, opt for more formal alternatives like "discontinue immediately" or "cease abruptly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go cold turkey" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence, typically describing the action of abruptly ceasing a habit or addiction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and understandable idiom. The examples illustrate its use in various contexts from quitting smoking to abstaining from social media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

22%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "go cold turkey" is a common idiom that signifies abruptly stopping a habit or addiction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and widely used. It's most frequently found in news and media, but is generally considered informal. While effective in conveying a sense of immediate cessation, it's important to consider more formal alternatives like "discontinue immediately" in professional or academic contexts. The expression is generally considered correct and is widely used in several contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discontinue without tapering

Emphasizes the lack of gradual reduction before stopping.

quit abruptly

Focuses on the suddenness of stopping, without the implication of difficulty.

end the addiction immediately

Specifically refers to ending an addiction without delay.

stop immediately

Emphasizes the instantaneous nature of the cessation.

break the habit at once

Highlights the immediate termination of a habitual behavior.

give up instantly

Highlights the act of surrendering to the cessation.

halt entirely

Stresses the complete and immediate halt of something.

drop the habit instantly

Focuses on the action of dropping a habit with no delay.

cease forthwith

A more formal way of saying to stop immediately.

terminate at once

A more formal way to express immediate termination.

FAQs

How to use "go cold turkey" in a sentence?

You can use "go cold turkey" to describe abruptly stopping an addictive habit or behavior. For example: "I decided to "go cold turkey" on social media to improve my focus."

What does it mean to "go cold turkey"?

To "go cold turkey" means to stop a behavior or substance use abruptly and completely, often implying that the process is difficult and may involve withdrawal symptoms.

What can I say instead of "go cold turkey"?

You can use alternatives like "quit abruptly", "stop immediately", or "discontinue without tapering" depending on the context.

Is it always safe to "go cold turkey"?

While "going cold turkey" can be effective for some habits, it's not always safe, especially with certain medications or substances. Consult a doctor before abruptly stopping any medication or addictive substance.