Kit and caboodle means: Everything entirely, the whole lot.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
kit and caboodle
Everything entirely, the whole lot.
Definitions
Everything entirely, the whole lot.
Kit and caboodle means: Everything entirely, the whole lot.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
kit and caboodle means: Everything entirely, the whole lot.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Comments
(US) All together; as one.
1954, Gordon Allport, cited in 2005, Steven J. Bartlett, The Pathology Of Man: A Study Of Human Evil, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=U5KQ0Yi76GMC&pg=PA243&dq=-whole+%22kit+and+caboodle%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X…
Comments
For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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