go cold turkey

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It was terrifying. You can’t just go cold turkey on these things,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

"I would be tempted to go cold turkey for a few days, just to really reflect and think about what the best course of action should be."

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2023

The girls’ trip turns into a kind of unintended intervention, even a detox, especially once she’s deprived of her phone and forced to go cold turkey.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2022

Don’t drink it every day, or go cold turkey for a few days so that your body can clear any caffeine in your system, and then gradually add it back to your routine.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 13, 2021

"Should I go cold turkey this morning and not have coffee?"

From Fox News • Aug. 22, 2021