Feifei Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei…
** Rob** And hello, I’m Rob!
** Feifei** You’re looking pleased with yourself today, Rob.
Rob I am. Look – biscuits!
Feifei Hmm, are biscuits really that exciting?
** Rob** Well, it’s not actually the biscuits, it’s the price. I got five pence off the packet – a great discount, hey?
** Feifei** Five pence! Big deal!
Rob Well, yes it is a big deal, Feifei – a big, big deal. By my calculations it’s a five per cent discount. So every bite tastes better because it’s cheaper! Oh hold on – you’re being sarcastic, aren’t you?
Feifei I am. It’s a sarcastic phrase. When we say ‘big deal’ to someone, we’re telling them that we don’t think what they’ve told us is very special or impressive. So sorry, Rob – I’m not impressed!
Rob It takes a lot to impress you, Feifei. How about some impressive examples?
Examples A: Have you heard? We’re getting a one per cent pay rise!
B: Big deal!
My brother said he completed the marathon in four hours. Big deal – I did it in three!
Feifei This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about the expression ‘big deal’, which can be said to someone to show you’re not impressed by what they’ve told you. You can also say something is ‘no big deal’ to mean it’s not a serious problem, like this…
Example Failing your driving test is no big deal – it happens to people all the time. You can try again next month.
Rob So that’s ‘no big deal’, but I think saving five pence off a packet of biscuits is a great deal. You know what people say – every penny counts.
** Feifei** Rob, you’re making a big deal about this – that’s another use of ‘big deal’. When you make a big deal about something, it means you make a big fuss.
** Rob** A big fuss? I bought 100 packets, Feifei, saving five pounds – that’s quite a deal don’t you think?
** Feifei** 100 packets! That’s a bit extreme – you must really love biscuits. What sort are they?
** Rob** They are chocolate digestives.
** Feifei** Oh chocolate digestives! My favourite – OK then, Rob, open them up and let’s start munching.
** Rob** Ha! I can see you are impressed with my ‘big deal’. Bye.
Feifei Bye.