Use 'the whole lot' to stress that you're talking about the total amount, especially when it's large or surprising.

Quantity Emphasis

'The whole lot' is often used in casual or informal conversations rather than in formal writing or speech.

Casual Tone

It can carry emotional weight, suggesting the speaker's amazement, frustration, or other strong feelings.

'The whole lot' implies every person in a group, suggesting no one is left out.

It's used to emphasize unity or commonality in a group's action or experience.

It implies that the behavior or action was collective and unanimous among the group.

When used as an adverb, it stresses wholesomeness or completeness of a state or emotion.

Can convey a deep level of personal involvement or emotional investment.