whole enchilada
The entire thing
The whole enchilada is everything—the entire thing, the full package.
Like ordering a complete Mexican dish rather than just parts of it, the phrase emphasizes totality: She didn't just want a promotion; she wanted the whole enchilada—corner office, executive parking, stock options.
Often preceded by "the whole" for emphasis, though this is redundant.
- allThe complete quantity
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
- entiretyThe whole of something
- exhaustiveCovering all possibilities
- the worksComplete set of options
everything · totality · top to bottom · composite · inclusive · maximal · soup to nuts · aggregate · lock stock and barrel · bag and baggage · complete · universal · sweeping · full monty · all-around · melding · omnibus · thorough
whole enchiladabare minimum
Smallest acceptable quantity
bare bones · tip of the iceberg · drop in the bucket · nothing · zilch
whole enchiladasmall potatoes
Insignificant things or people
peanuts · drop in the bucket · small fry · minor detail · side issue
whole, wholly, wholesome, wholesomeness, unwholesome, wholeness, wholesale, wholesaler, enchilada