Definition of the word big deal

The term "big deal" as an expression of emphasis or exaggeration first appeared in the United States during the late 1920s or early 1930s. The phrase initially referred to someone with high social status or authority, as in "he's a big deal in the business world." However, over time, the meaning of "big deal" evolved. By the 1950s, it began to be used more broadly as a sarcastic or dismissive way to downplay or mock something that is being presented as significant. The suggestion behind "big deal" is that the matter in question is not, in fact, that important or impressive. The exact origin of the phrase is unclear, but it is likely a variation on the older expression "a bigcheese," which originated in the mid-1800s and denoted someone with considerable influence or power within a particular group or organization. Some etymologists believe that "big deal" may also have been influenced by the earlier slang term "big shot," which meant someone who was self-important or arrogant. Regardless of its origins, "big deal" has now become a widely recognized and commonly used idiom in everyday conversation, particularly in colloquial and informal settings.