Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[faith2k]

I have two questions about "cold turkey," means "without preparation".


We usually say "I quit smoking cold turkey. Is the part of speech of "cold turkey" adverb here because it modifies quit?

Can "cold turkey" be also used to mean "start some activity without preparation, such as in "I started rock-climbing cold turkey."?

Thank you.

[CP]

If I'm not mistaken, cold turkey originated from the effects of quitting heroin. A heroin addict (aka junkie) quits using the drug, either because he can't get any, or he is arrested, and he suffers the effects of withdrawal, including nausea, cold sweats, shivering, etc. He is like a cold turkey, ashen white, with goosebumps, cold, sweaty.

The symptoms would not be so pronounced if someone just used less and less over time until he quit altogether, but since heroin, like many drugs, is less and less effective each time it is used, the junkie has to use more and more to get high -- or, after a while, just to feel halfway normal, not sick. So cutting down doesn't usually work.

Anyway, if someone stopped using suddenly, he went cold turkey, and pretty soon, going cold turkey meant quitting junk abruptly. Next thing you know, you can go cold turkey on anything -- quit smoking cigarettes, stop eating ice cream, give up your dream of finding love with Angelina Jolie, etc.

I've never heard of starting something cold turkey, and it sounds a little odd. I wouldn't recommend saying it.

As for its function, when you quit cold turkey, I suppose cold turkey acts as an adverbial phrase. But probably other people know grammar better than I.

And maybe others know the etymology of cold turkey better than I do, too. The above is just my understanding of it.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[scottish_tiger]

In basic terms cold turkey means to completely give up any addictive product without any supplement or replacement.

For example: Drugs; smoking; alcohol; coffee; chocolate; etc

If you can view it in your country, a perfect example of cold turkey being used in a movie situation is "Trainspotting" starring Ewan McGregor & Robert Carlisle in their first blockbuster movie roles. This movie is extremely controversial, and contains some strong language in addition to scenes of drug abuse.

Scottish Tiger
_________________
I am always happy to help you learn English.

[dragn]