big deal
Featured
May 19, 2025
A big deal is something important or impressive—a significant person, event, or transaction. The phrase comes from 1920s business slang referring to major commercial transactions. By contrast “no big deal” or “no biggie” means something is unimportant.
The phrase can also mean it's opposite: since the 1950s, people started using it sarcastically to dismiss something as unimportant. Tone is everything. “That's a big deal” can be sincere or cutting, depending on how you say it. The sarcastic version became especially popular in American slang by the 1960s, possibly influenced by Yiddish expressions.
The phrase can also mean it's opposite: since the 1950s, people started using it sarcastically to dismiss something as unimportant. Tone is everything. “That's a big deal” can be sincere or cutting, depending on how you say it. The sarcastic version became especially popular in American slang by the 1960s, possibly influenced by Yiddish expressions.
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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