the whole kit and caboodle
Meaning
To refer to every single thing or person associated with something, leaving nothing out.
Origin
The phrase conjures an image of gathering every last thing, and its power lies in the playful combination of its two key words. "Kit" has been used since the 17th century to describe a collection of articles, tools, or supplies, such as a soldier's equipment or a traveler's bag. The truly colorful part, however, is "caboodle." This delightful, somewhat nonsensical word is widely believed to be an American corruption of "boodle," a term that emerged in the early 19th century and referred to a collection or crowd of people, or even a batch of stolen money. When "kit" and "caboodle" joined forces, likely around the mid-19th century, they created a wonderfully alliterative and comprehensive phrase, painting a vivid picture of taking absolutely everything, down to the last scrap, making it a distinctly American idiom for total inclusion.
Examples
- When they decided to move cross-country, they packed up the whole kit and caboodle, from the family heirlooms to the garden gnome.
- The magician dramatically vanished, taking the whole kit and caboodle of his elaborate stage props along with him.