Question 1

What does "the whole enchilada" mean?

Accepted Answer

Everything; the entire situation, package, or deal.

Question 2

How do you use "the whole enchilada" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

He didn't just want a pay rise — he wanted the whole enchilada: title, office, and assistant.

Question 3

Is "the whole enchilada" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"the whole enchilada" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. An American colloquialism now used broadly to mean the entire scope of something.