Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun Mexican Cookery.
- a tortilla rolled and filled with a seasoned mixture, usually containing meat, and covered with a sauce flavored with chili.
- big/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.
- whole enchilada, Slang. the entirety of something, especially something impressive or outstanding: She has a job with money, prestige, and satisfaction—the whole enchilada.
noun
- a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla fried in hot fat, filled with meat, and served with a chilli sauce
1887, American English, from Mexican Spanish enchilada, fem. past participle of enchilar “season with chili,” from en- “in” + chile “chili” (see chili).
see big cheese (enchilada); whole ball of wax (enchilada).