It can be used to describe:
* A person who is incompetent or makes foolish mistakes: "He's a real turkey when it comes to fixing things."
* A project or plan that is poorly conceived or destined to fail: "That business idea was a real turkey from the start."
* A performance or presentation that is disastrous: "His speech was a real turkey – he stumbled over every word."
The origin of the idiom is uncertain, but it likely stems from the association of turkeys with clumsiness and foolishness. In some cultures, turkeys are seen as somewhat comical or even stupid animals.
Here are some examples of how the idiom is used:
* "The new restaurant was a real turkey – the food was terrible and the service was even worse."
* "He tried to write a novel, but it was a real turkey – the characters were flat and the plot was predictable."
* "That politician is a real turkey – he doesn't have a clue about what he's doing."