big deal

noun

: something of special importance

what's the big deal?

—sometimes used ironically as an interjection

Examples of big deal in a Sentence

The party was a big deal.

The cost didn't seem like much to me, but I know it was a big deal for many people.

Recent Examples on the Web

So finishing construction of Pad 39A's new Starship tower will be a very big deal. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Is this a particularly big deal for Taylor Swift, or just kinda business as usual for the biggest pop star in the world? — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026

Still, the presence of these two measuring sticks has led to public confusion of if this El Niño is actually a big deal or not. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Halloween is also a big deal in Brooklyn with trick-or-treating drawing scores of costumed families to the borough. — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for big deal

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• genteel