big deal
Americannoun
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an important or impressive person or thing.
to make a big deal out of nothing;
I hear he's a big deal on Wall Street now.
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(used ironically as an interjection to indicate that one considers something to be unimportant or unimpressive).
So you're the mayor's cousin—big deal!
idioms
interjection
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A matter of great interest or importance, as in Performing in Symphony Hall is a big deal for everyone in the chorus . [c. 1940] Also see under make a federal case out of .
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So what? Who cares? For example, So you got the job after all—well, big deal! This use of the phrase as an ironic interjection dates from approximately the same time.
Etymology
Origin of big deal
First recorded in 1945–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I scowled, which wasn’t a big deal since everyone in the room was wearing a similar disgruntled expression, although I was pretty sure it wasn’t because their simulation test hijack wasn’t going as they’d planned.
From Literature
“I’m hoping it’s not no big deal, but we’ll get her checked out and just want to take the precaution and pull her out of those lineups,” McDonald said.
From Los Angeles Times
Plus, why video glitches in job interviews are a big deal and how America’s billionaire women amassed their fortunes.
In a world where pharmaceutical companies are racing to distinguish themselves from competitors, results like these are a big deal.
From Barron's
“Oh, it’s . . . it’s no big deal,” Major Puff replied.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
