enchilada

American  

[en-chuh-lah-duh, -lad-uh] / ˌɛn tʃəˈlɑ də, -ˈlæd ə /

noun

Mexican Cooking.

1. 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

1. whole enchilada, the entirety of something, especially something impressive or outstanding.

   She has a job with money, prestige, and satisfaction—the whole enchilada.

2. big / top enchilada, big enchilada.

enchilada British  

/ ˌɛntʃɪˈlɑːdə /

noun

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

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enchilada More Idioms  

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

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Etymology

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; en- ¹, chili, -ate ¹

Compare meaning

How does enchilada compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• enchilada vs. burrito

Example Sentences

I was on day three of travel-induced “ick,” sitting in an airport Chili’s at 10:30 a.m., eating a cup of enchilada soup with a glass of ice-cold lemon water.

From Salon

Pua’s parents arrive bright and early with breakfast enchiladas, and Auntie Nina comes with a crate of papayas.

From Literature

“Rescheduling is not the whole enchilada but it would be a big deal,” wrote analysts for Beacon Policy Advisors in a research note this week.

From Barron's

I’d order the jerk chicken enchiladas, which comes with a side of rice and beans, mixed together.

From Los Angeles Times

“If we don’t have a politics of solutions and making people’s lives better, I just don’t know where we end up,” he said, as his enchiladas sat cooling before him.

From Los Angeles Times