Definition

Noun: - The whole thing; everything; the entire collection or lot. This idiom refers to the complete set of items or the entirety of a situation, often with a sense of inclusiveness or comprehensiveness.

Usage

The phrase "kit and caboodle" is an informal, somewhat old-fashioned idiom. It is almost always preceded by "the" (e.g., the whole kit and caboodle). It is used to emphasize that you are referring to the entirety of something, leaving nothing out.

Examples

• Noun:
  • When they moved, they sold their house, car, and furniture—the whole kit and caboodle.
  • Don't bother sorting the files; just archive the whole kit and caboodle.
  • I decided to quit my job, leave the city, and start over—the whole kit and caboodle.

Advanced Usage

• "the whole kit and caboodle": This is the most common and standard form of the idiom. The word "whole" intensifies the meaning of completeness.
  • The company was bought out—offices, patents, staff, the whole kit and caboodle.

Variants and Related Words

• The whole shebang (noun, informal): A synonym meaning everything involved in a particular situation.
  • They renovated the kitchen: new appliances, cabinets, flooring, the whole shebang.
• The whole nine yards (noun, informal): Another synonym implying everything possible or available.
  • For the wedding, they wanted the dress, the cake, the band—the whole nine yards.
• Lock, stock, and barrel (noun phrase): An idiom meaning including every part of something.
  • He sold the business, lock, stock, and barrel.

Synonyms

• Everything
• The entire lot
• The full package
• The totality

Related Idioms

• Bag and baggage: With all one's belongings.
  • They left the country, bag and baggage.
• Hook, line, and sinker: Completely (often used for believing a story).
  • He fell for the scam hook, line, and sinker. (This idiom is related in structure and sense of completeness but is used in different contexts.)

Noun

1. everything available; usually preceded by `the'
   • we saw the whole shebang
   • a hotdog with the works
   • we took on the whole caboodle
   • for $10 you get the full treatment