THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Quit cold turkey
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To suddenly stop a habit completely.
Usage note: keep in mind
Quit cold turkey means stop a habit abruptly and completely, rather than reduce it gradually. The phrase describes how someone stops; it is not advice about whether abrupt stopping is appropriate. Use everyday non-medical examples when practising the expression.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- He quit smoking cold turkey after his health scare.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?
To suddenly stop a habit completely.
Show the answer
Quit cold turkey — To suddenly stop a habit completely.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Quit cold turkey” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
To suddenly stop a habit completely.
Compare: He quit smoking cold turkey after his health scare.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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More examples in context
- I quit checking my phone during meals cold turkey by leaving it in another room.
- She stopped late-night online shopping cold turkey instead of reducing it a little each week.
Check your understanding
Does cold turkey describe a gradual reduction over several weeks or an abrupt stop?
Check your answer
An abrupt stop. The phrase describes the change in behaviour, without telling us whether that approach is suitable in a particular situation.
Use it in your own words
Write one new situation where quit cold turkey fits. Explain the situation in plain English first, then rewrite it using the expression. Check that the tone and meaning suit your audience.