Big deal

Origin of: Big deal

Big deal

Dates originally from the mid-19th century in America, meaning an important poker game or business transaction and it can still mean the latter in some contexts, but from c.1945 onwards, its usage is generally ironic and pours scorn on someone or something purporting to be important. No big deal signifying something or someone as of little importance dates from around the same time, the mid-20th century.