big deal

noun, Slang.
1.
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.
2.
(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!
Origin
1945-50
British Dictionary definitions for big deal

big deal

interjection
1.
(slang) an exclamation of scorn, derision, etc, used esp to belittle a claim or offer
Word Origin and History for big deal
n.

from mid-19c. in poker or business; as an ironic expression, popular in American English from c.1965, perhaps a translated Yiddishism (cf. a groyser kunst).

Slang definitions & phrases for big deal

big deal

modifier

: a big-deal salary/ a big-deal Boston wiseass dick;

noun phrase
  1. Anything very important; consequential event or circumstance •Often used ironically to deflate someone or something, esp in the retort ''Big deal'' after someone has made an earnest reference: Getting good grades is a big deal around here/ So you just bought an Audi. Big deal
  2. An important person; big shot: Thinks he's a big deal 'cause he's got that fucking paper backing him up
Related Terms

make a big production, no big deal

[1940s+ Students and WWII armed forces; probably fr the Yiddish sarcastic dismissal agroyser kunst, ''some big art,'' as translated and used, for example, by the comedian Arnold Stang]


Idioms and Phrases with big deal

big deal

.
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
.
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.