ˌcold ˈturkey noun [uncountable]
an unpleasant physical condition suffered by people who stop taking a drug that they are addicted to:
addicts who are made to go cold turkey

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

cold turkey
the unpleasant physical and mental effects someone suffers when they suddenly stop taking drugs.
The addict himself must make the decision that he wants to go cold turkey.

The nurses are there to encourage patients through cold turkey.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

cold-turkey
cold turkey - the unpleasant physical and mental effects someone suffers when they suddenly stop taking drugs.
Cold-turkey treatment of addicts will always produce withdrawal symptoms.
(always before noun)

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

cold turkey
abruptly and without medical aid (used when someone stops taking addictive drugs or tries to stop a bad habit)
The woman stopped using drugs cold turkey and became very sick.

The government program helped the drug addicts stop using heroin cold turkey.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

cold turkey
adv., slang, informal
1. Abruptly and without medical aid to withdraw from the use of an addictive drug or from a serious drinking problem.
Joe is a very brave guy; he kicked the habit cold turkey.
2. n. An instance of withdrawal from drugs, alcohol, or cigarette smoking.
Joe did a cold turkey.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲