Big deal

Meaning

The idiom "Big Deal" is often used to express that something is not a big or significant event, especially when it is being exaggerated. It can also mean that something is unimportant and should be dismissed.

Usage

• "I accidentally spilled coffee on my shirt, it's no big deal." (The incident is not a big issue or concern.)
• "He got promoted to manager, big deal!" (The promotion is not an impressive achievement.)
• "She won a lottery, wow, what a big deal!" (Winning the lottery is a significant event.)
• "We missed the bus by a minute, no big deal." (Missed the bus by a minute is not a significant event.)
• "He proposed to her on her birthday, that's a big deal!" (Proposing to someone on their birthday is a significant event.)

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "big deal" is unclear. However, it has been used in English since at least the 19th century. It may have evolved from the phrase "Not much of a big thing," which means something is not very important. The emphasis on "big" in the modern idiom suggests that it has become more commonly used and emphasized over time.

Synonyms in English

• No biggie
• Not a big deal
• Nothing to worry about
• It's no skin off my teeth
• It's all in good fun

Synonyms in other languages

• French - C'est rien de grand (It's nothing)
• Spanish - Nada es grande (Nothing is big)
• Italian - Non è niente (Nothing is anything)
• German - Es ist nichts (There's nothing)
• Russian - Нет большого смысла (There's no big meaning)

Similar Idioms

• bay for blood

• ballpark figure

• by dint of