Definition

Noun phrase: - Everything available; the entire collection or lot: This idiom refers to the complete set of things or people involved in a situation, leaving nothing out. It emphasizes totality.

Usage

This phrase is informal and is used to refer to a whole group or collection of items, often in a somewhat emphatic or colorful way. It is typically preceded by 'the'.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is synonymous with other informal expressions for "everything," such as "the whole shebang," "the whole nine yards," or "the whole ball of wax." Its use adds a folksy or emphatic tone.
• It often implies that the collection is being considered as a single, often cumbersome or significant, unit.

Variants and Related Words

• The whole shebang (noun phrase): Everything involved in a particular situation.
• The whole nine yards (noun phrase): Everything possible or available.
• Lock, stock, and barrel (noun phrase): Including every part; completely.

Synonyms

• Everything
• The entire lot
• The full set
• The totality

Related Idioms

• The whole ball of wax: Another informal idiom meaning the entirety of something.
• Everything but the kitchen sink: An idiom meaning nearly everything imaginable, often implying an excessive amount.

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