a large bird native to North America, typically having brownish plumage and a bare, wattled head and neck. It is widely farmed for its meat., a failure or unsuccessful person or thing.

talk turkey, cold turkey, like turkeys voting for Christmas

Formal and Informal Expressions of turkey

In different contexts, you can replace 'turkey' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'large bird native to North America' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'flop, dud' is a commonplace synonym.

turkey: Explore its Definition & Usage

turkey Definition

1a large bird native to North America, typically having brownish plumage and a bare, wattled head and neck. It is widely farmed for its meat.
2a failure or unsuccessful person or thing.

Using turkey: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "turkey" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
We had turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
Example
He's a real turkey when it comes to playing basketball.
Example
The movie was a real turkey at the box office.
Example
I'm afraid this project is turning into a bit of a turkey.

turkey Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for turkey

Antonyms for turkey

triumph
success

Phrases with turkey

talk turkey
to discuss something honestly and directly, especially in business matters
Example
Let's talk turkey about the budget for next year.
cold turkey
the abrupt and complete cessation of taking a drug to which one is addicted
Example
He quit smoking cold turkey and hasn't had a cigarette since.
like turkeys voting for Christmas
used to describe a situation where people are acting against their own interests
Example
If they vote for that candidate, they'll be like turkeys voting for Christmas.

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Summary: turkey in Brief

The term 'turkey' [ˈtɜːrki] refers to a large bird native to North America, often farmed for its meat. It also means a failure or unsuccessful person or thing, as in 'The movie was a real turkey at the box office.' 'Turkey' extends into phrases like 'talk turkey,' meaning to discuss something honestly, and 'cold turkey,' referring to the abrupt cessation of drug use.