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whole enchilada

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en⋅chi⋅la⋅da

[en-chuh-lah-duh, -lad-uh]
–noun Mexican Cookery.
1. a tortilla rolled and filled with a seasoned mixture, usually containing meat, and covered with a sauce flavored with chili.
2. big or top enchilada, Slang. someone regarded as the most important, influential, or dominant person in an organization: The police are hoping to catch the syndicate's big enchilada in the next raid.
3. whole enchilada, Slang. the entirety of something, esp. something impressive or outstanding: She has a job with money, prestige, and satisfaction—the whole enchilada.

Origin:
1885–90; < AmerSp, fem. of Sp enchilado spiced with chili (ptp. of enchilar), equiv. to en- en- 1 + chil(e) chili + -ado -ate 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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