enchilada

[ en-chuh-lah-duh, -lad-uh ]

/ ˌɛn tʃəˈlɑ də, -ˈlæd ə /

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noun Mexican Cooking.

a tortilla rolled and filled with a seasoned mixture, usually containing meat, and covered with a sauce flavored with chiles.

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Idioms about enchilada

big / top enchilada, Slang. big enchilada.

whole enchilada, Slang. the entirety of something, especially something impressive or outstanding: She has a job with money, prestige, and satisfaction—the whole enchilada.

Origin of enchilada

First recorded in 1885–90; from Central American Spanish, feminine of Spanish enchilado “spiced with chile” (past participle of enchilar ), equivalent to en- causative prefix + chil(e) “chile pepper” + -ado adjective suffix; see origin at en-¹, chili, -ate¹

Words nearby enchilada

enchanter's nightshade, enchanting, enchantment, enchantress, enchase, enchilada, enchiridion, enchondroma, enchorial, -enchyma, encina

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use enchilada in a sentence

When reheated, leftover pernil can be dry, so serve it with a fruit compote on top, such as fig, or repurpose it in dishes such as tacos, stuffed peppers or enchiladas.
Puerto Rican pernil is a standout Thanksgiving roast. Just guard that crispy skin.|Monti Carlo|November 18, 2021|Washington Post
Only later, when I was enjoying vegan enchiladas and a smoothie purchased at a thrumming downtown restaurant, did I turn back to my fascination with Aspen and its extensive cycling.
Aspen’s other million-dollar asset: Cycling|Rachel Walker|September 30, 2021|Washington Post
McIngvale has also paid food vendors to bring in tacos, enchiladas, hamburgers, hot dogs and breakfast burritos.
Texas is frozen and in crisis. A furniture store owner has emerged as a hero — again.|Cathy Free|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
When we came back inside, the leftovers—green chile enchiladas and beans—were on the stovetop, and my son had eaten some.
I Rejected the Native Grieving Ceremonies My Mother Taught Me When She Died. But Losing Friends During the Pandemic Changed That|Terese Marie Mailhot|December 28, 2020|Time

“It tasted like a crow enchilada,” Morrissey said, as he literally ate his words.
The Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah Sounds Off on Weed, the Weather, and Winning|Bill Schulz|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is the big enchilada, and the culmination of the alleged death spiral.
The Five Biggest Lies About Obamacare|Michael Tomasky|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And when you win those two states in the Republican primaries, you're likely to win the whole red enchilada.
She Can Win!|Mark McKinnon|September 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for enchilada

enchilada

/ (ˌɛntʃɪˈlɑːdə) /

noun

a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla fried in hot fat, filled with meat, and served with a chilli sauce

Word Origin for enchilada

C19: American Spanish, feminine of enchilado seasoned with chilli, from enchilar to spice with chilli, from chile chilli

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with enchilada

enchilada

see big cheese (enchilada); whole ball of wax (enchilada).