Why Do We Say “Going Cold Turkey”? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 20, 2025)
About this episode
Why do we say someone quit “cold turkey” when they stop something abruptly? Gordy breaks down the two top theories behind this odd phrase—and neither involves leftovers.
One theory ties the phrase to the physical symptoms of withdrawal, where pale skin and goosebumps were said to resemble uncooked turkey. The other traces it back to the older phrase “talking turkey,” meaning to speak plainly—with “cold turkey” evolving into a metaphor for doing something bluntly and without ceremony.
So which theory is right? Honestly, both could be. Language is rarely as tidy as we want it to be.
Sources:
Ayto, J. (2010). Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford University Press.
Etymonline. (n.d.). Cold turkey. Retrieved from https://www.etymonline.com/word/cold%20turkey
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). The origin of "cold turkey." Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/what-does-cold-turkey-mean
#SmartestYearEver #ColdTurkey #WordOrigins #LanguageFacts #FunFacts #CuriousMinds #HistoryNerd #EverydayPhrases #DidYouKnow #LearnEveryDay Music thanks to Zapsplat.
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