| 1. | abrupt and complete withdrawal from the use of an addictive substance, as a narcotic drug, alcohol, or tobacco. |
| 2. | go cold turkey,
|

Slang.| 1. | to withdraw from (an addictive substance or a habit) abruptly and completely. |
| 2. | to withdraw from an addictive substance or a habit abruptly and completely. |
| 3. | abrupt and complete: cold-turkey withdrawal from drugs. |
| cold turkey n. Slang
|
To “go cold turkey” is to withdraw suddenly and completely from an addictive substance or some other form of dependency: “Many people who attempt to quit smoking do so by going cold turkey rather than by gradually cutting down.”
cold turkey
|
cold turkey
Immediate, complete withdrawal from something, especially an addictive substance; also, without planning or preparation. For example, My bad shoulder forced me to quit playing tennis cold turkey, or I'd never done any rock climbing, but decided to try it cold turkey. This term may have come from the earlier expression talk turkey (for blunt speaking). At first used strictly for abrupt withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, it soon was transferred to quitting any habit or activity. [Early 1900s]