enchilada
B2Informal
Definition
Meaning
A Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with a chili sauce.
Used idiomatically to refer to the whole of something, especially in the phrase 'the whole enchilada' meaning the entirety or everything involved in a situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes the food item. In its extended idiomatic use, it is almost exclusively found in the fixed phrase 'the whole enchilada', which is informal and somewhat humorous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally understood in both varieties, but the dish is more commonly encountered and referenced in American contexts due to geographical and cultural proximity to Mexico. The idiomatic phrase 'the whole enchilada' originated in and is more frequent in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, the literal meaning is neutral (a food item). The idiom carries a casual, slightly playful connotation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English, both for the food term and especially the idiom.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[eat/have/make/order] an enchilada[verb] the whole enchiladaVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the whole enchilada”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal use in phrases like 'We want the whole enchilada—the contract, the licensing, and the partnership.'
Academic
Virtually never used in formal academic writing, except perhaps in cultural or culinary studies.
Everyday
Common when discussing food or using the idiom to mean 'everything'.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I ate a chicken enchilada for dinner.
- Do you like enchiladas?
- The restaurant serves the best cheese enchiladas in town.
- He ordered two enchiladas with rice and beans.
- For my birthday, I'm planning to cook a full Mexican meal, including enchiladas from my grandmother's recipe.
- Winning the tournament meant getting the whole enchilada: the trophy, the prize money, and a sponsorship deal.
- Negotiating the merger isn't about single assets; we're after the whole enchilada—subsidiaries, patents, and the entire distribution network.
- The film's authenticity was bolstered by details like the lovingly prepared enchiladas in the family scene.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an ENormous CHILLI covering a LADa car. The 'whole enchilada' is the entire car covered in sauce.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COMPLEX SITUATION/ENTITY IS A MEXICAN DISH (e.g., 'the whole enchilada').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'enchilada' literally or as a generic 'пирог' or 'рулет'. It is a specific cultural dish. The idiom 'the whole enchilada' should not be translated word-for-word; use equivalents like 'всё целиком', 'полный комплект'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'enchillada', 'enchilada'. Incorrect plural: 'enchiladaes' (correct: enchiladas). Using the idiom outside informal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'enchilada'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'enchilada' is exclusively a noun in modern English.
No, it is an informal idiom. In formal contexts, use alternatives like 'the entirety', 'the complete package', or 'everything involved'.
An enchilada is typically covered in chili sauce and often baked, while a burrito is larger, not usually sauced on the outside, and simply wrapped.
The standard pronunciation is en-chi-LAH-da, with the primary stress on the third syllable. The 'ch' is pronounced like in 'chip'.