turkey

/'tə:ki/

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The word "turkey" has several meanings in English, so let's explore them!

Basic Meaning:

1. As a noun (animal):

   • A turkey is a large bird with a fan-shaped tail, often domesticated and raised for food. People usually eat turkey during special occasions, like Thanksgiving in the United States.
   • Example: "We had a delicious roasted turkey for dinner on Thanksgiving."

2. As a noun (event):

   • "Turkey" can also refer to an event or a project that fails badly or is not successful at all. It is often used informally to describe something that was a disappointment.
   • Example: "The movie was a turkey; everyone left the theater feeling disappointed."

3. As a noun (person):

   • Informally, it can refer to a person who does something foolish or annoying.
   • Example: "Don't be a turkey! Pay attention when I’m talking."

4. As a proper noun:

   • Turkey is also the name of a country located in Eurasia, bridging Europe and Asia. It has a rich history and culture.
   • Example: "I would love to visit Turkey to see the historical sites."

Advanced Usage:

• When referring to a failed event, you might hear the phrase “that was a total turkey!” which emphasizes how unsuccessful the event was.
• In discussions about films, saying “it was a box office turkey” means that the movie did not make money and was considered a flop.

Word Variants:

• Turkeys: The plural form of turkey, used when talking about more than one of the birds or events.
• Turkeying: A less common form, used informally sometimes to describe the act of performing poorly or failing.

Synonyms:

• For the bird: fowl, poultry.
• For a failed event: flop, failure, dud, bust.
• For a foolish person: fool, idiot, clown.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Talk turkey": This idiom means to discuss something seriously or to negotiate a deal.

  • Example: "Let’s talk turkey and figure out the budget for the project."

• "Turkey shoot": This phrase usually describes an easy situation or target, often used in the context of games or competitions.

  • Example: "The game was a turkey shoot; we won without much effort."

Summary:

The word "turkey" can describe a delicious bird commonly eaten during special occasions, a failed event, or a foolish person. It is also the name of a country.

Academic

Noun

1. an event that fails badly or is totally ineffectual
   • the first experiment was a real turkey
   • the meeting was a dud as far as new business was concerned
2. flesh of large domesticated fowl usually roasted
3. a person who does something thoughtless or annoying
   • some joker is blocking the driveway
4. a Eurasian republic in Asia Minor and the Balkans; on the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the Young Turks, led by Kemal Ataturk, established a republic in 1923
5. large gallinaceous bird with fan-shaped tail; widely domesticated for food

Synonyms

• bomb
• dud
• joker
• Turkey
• Republic of Turkey
• Meleagris gallopavo