It was originally used with reference to addictive drugs. The phrase likens the goose flesh or goose pimples caused by shivering and sweating, a side-effect of sudden drug withdrawal, to the flesh of a dead plucked turkey [1].
Examples:
“In rehab, I was made to go full cold turkey – no methadone, no tranquillisers, no sleeping pills – as the ethos of the centre was to give you an experience you wouldn’t forget.”
“Around four in every five have what doctors call ‘neonatal withdrawal symptoms’ - meaning they have developed a physical dependency on the drug, and essentially have to go cold turkey.”
The phrase is now also used in relation to suddenly giving up other habits.
“I went cold turkey on buying clothes – and learned that it will take more than taxes to slow the march of fast fashion”
[1] “cold” in Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.
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