go cold turkey

Meaning

To suddenly and completely stop a habit, addiction, or dependency rather than reducing it gradually. While challenging, this method is often discussed in relation to quitting substances, social media, or unhealthy foods.

Examples

• I used to drink five cups of coffee a day, but I decided to go cold turkey last week.

  I used to drink five cups of coffee a day, but I decided to go cold turkey last week.

• Trying to go cold turkey on social media was tough, but my mental health has improved so much.

  Trying to go cold turkey on social media was tough, but my mental health has improved so much.

• He didn't ease off his sugar intake; he just went cold turkey and stopped eating sweets altogether.

  He didn't ease off his sugar intake; he just went cold turkey and stopped eating sweets altogether.

• If you want to quit smoking, some people find it easier to go cold turkey than to use nicotine patches.

  If you want to quit smoking, some people find it easier to go cold turkey than to use nicotine patches.

• She went cold turkey on online shopping and managed to save a lot of money last month.

  She went cold turkey on online shopping and managed to save a lot of money last month.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I went to cold turkey on soda.

  ✓ I went cold turkey on soda.

  Do not insert the preposition 'to' after 'went'. The phrase 'cold turkey' acts directly as an adverbial phrase following the verb 'go'.

• ✗ He decided to do cold turkey with smoking.

  ✓ He decided to go cold turkey on smoking.

  The correct verb is 'go' (not 'do'), and the preposition used to introduce the habit you are quitting is 'on'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I couldn't just reduce my screen time, so I chose to ___ and delete all my social media apps.

  💡 To stop a habit completely and immediately.

  Show answer

  go cold turkey

• He decided to ___ on smoking three years ago and hasn't touched a cigarette since.

  💡 To abruptly end a dependency.

  Show answer

  go cold turkey