ENGLISH
REFERENCE

whole enchilada

idiom
Meaning

All of something or a group of related things taken in totality.


Examples
SIMPLE

I do not just want a slice, I want the whole enchilada.

CONTEXTUAL

The company offered to buy the software, the hardware, and the support services, which was the whole enchilada.

COMPLEX

Rather than settling for a partial settlement, the lawyer insisted that his client was entitled to the whole enchilada regarding the inheritance.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    go the whole hog

    To do something as completely or entirely as possible; to hold back or reserve nothing.

  2. 02

    have the whole bakery

    To have large, callipygian buttocks; to be caked up.

  3. 03

    smoke the whole pack

    To be made to go all in on something one only wanted a lesser amount of.

  4. 04

    the whole world and his dog

    Everybody; too many people; a huge crowd.

  5. 05

    whole ball of wax

    The entire or overall plan, concept or action.

  6. 06

    whole box of tricks

    Everything and anything associated with a certain enterprise.

  7. 07

    whole cloth

    in full extent, wholesale, entirely, without changes or additions

  8. 08

    whole package

    Something or someone that possesses a full set of relevant characteristics, usually desirable ones.

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