Origin of the phrase “The Whole Enchilada”

I didn’t realize how popular this query was until I picked the phrase for my new blog WholeEnchilada.wordpress.com. Wow – a lot of people really want to know the origin of the phrase “The Whole Enchilada”! So I did a bit ‘o research and found some info at Phrases.org. Admittedly, not the best source of information and probably not fully vetted, but I think the first answer to the question makes it worthy:

The Whole Enchilada 

: : : : : What is the origin of this phrase, please?


: : : : : It comes from the Mexican dish ‘enchilada’ and means ‘all of it’.


: : : : : I don’t think so. I would agree that it is obvious that the saying came from the Mexican dish. However, I thought that the poster was questioning why the phrase uses that particular dish as opposed to others. Anyone?


: : : : :Someone in the Nixon administration used this phrase on one of the notorious tapes, and it became popular. I forget who exactly.


: : : : : It was Herb Kalmbach, talking on the phone to Nixon’s assistant John Erlichmann.

Read more here: http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/25/messages/534.html

Hahahaha!!! “It comes from the Mexican dish ‘enchilada’ and means ‘all of it’.” Sarcasm at it’s best? Idiocracy in real life? You decide! Other than that, it seems plausible that this could be the origin of the phrase. So for now I’m going to say the phrase came from Herb Kalmbach on the Nixon tapes. If I come across better info, I’ll do another post.

You can read more about how “the whole enchilada” and similar phrases at World Wide Words:

What we do know is that the whole ball of wax is everything and so essentially means the same as other American expressions such as the whole nine yards, the whole shooting match, the whole megillah, the whole shebang and the whole enchilada. Until recently, its first appearance was in the ninth edition of Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary of 1953 and was assumed to be of that period. It turns out to be much older.

Read more here: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-who5.htm

Talking about Lessons learned from Vista

download squad has a post with some info on “lessons learned” from what they refer to as “Vista’s underwhelming debut”:

The amount of significant changes to the core OS were blamed for many of Vista’s delays, as well as many of the compatibility problems with existing products. While Microsoft doesn’t regret making these changes to Vista (well, so they say), they are not making changes on that scale with Windows 7. When it comes to addressing release issues, Microsoft has made the decision to be less transparent about release schedules, only making information available when the date is actually feasible. Right now, Microsoft is aiming to launch Windows 7 sometime in 2010 (or 2011 or 2012…this is still Microsoft).

Read more here: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/11/14/lessons-learned-from-vista/

Some interesting points but nothing a lot of folks haven’t already discussed on the Vista front:

• 65 More Windows Vista Mistakes ~ Chris Pirillo
• Windows Vista Feedback ~ Chris Pirillo
• About those Windows Vista “mistakes”… | Ed Bott’s Windows …
• » Vista mistakes Microsoft won’t repeat with Windows 7
• Ballmer Analyzes Microsoft’s ‘One Big’ Vista Mistake – IT Channel …
• 5 Mistakes Microsoft made with Windows Vista – Digit Forum
• Vista’s biggest problem remains Windows XP, survey says
• Windows Vista Gripes (list of links)

Tags: Vista, Windows, Operating Systems, OS, Windows Vista, Technology, Vista Mistakes, Windows 7, Vista Reviews, Vista Sucks

Image credit: http://www.blogography.com/archives/2006/06/vista.html

She put the lime in the coconut, and drank them both up

Here’s a really cute picture of a tequila lime kitty that goes nicely with the well-known Harry Nilsson song:

Coconut lyrics from the album Nilsson Schmilsson
by Harry Nilsson

Brother bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime
His sister had another one, she paid it for the lime

She put the lime in the coconut, she drank ‘em both up (3x)
Put the lime in the coconut, she called the doctor, woke him up, and said

Doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take, I said
Doctor, to relieve this bellyache, I said
Doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take, I said
Doctor, to relieve this bellyache

Now let me get this straight
Put the lime in the coconut, you drank ‘em both up (3x)
Put the lime in the coconut, you called your doctor, woke him up, and said

Doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take, I said
Doctor, to relieve this bellyache, I said
Doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take, I said
Doctor, to relieve this bellyache

You put the lime in the coconut, you drink ‘em both together
Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink ‘em both up
Put the lime in the coconut, and call me in the morning

Read the rest here:  http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/coconut.htm

And for all you nutty Muppet fans, here’s a great clip of the group performing the song: 

Tags: Coconut Song, Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Schmilsson, MuppetsVideo, Cat Humor, Funny Videos