big deal
Cause for excitement
Big deal is used in two opposing ways.
Sincerely, it describes something of genuine importance or significance: Getting into Harvard was a big deal for our family.
Sarcastically, often as an exclamation, it dismisses something as trivial or unimpressive: So you can do a handstand—big deal.
A big deal can also refer to an important person: He thinks he's such a big deal.
The phrase captures how context and tone completely determine whether something matters or doesn't.
Quality of mattering
- consequenceResult of an action
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- magnitudeSize or scale
momentousness · substance · impact · priority · relevance · criticality · seriousness · prominence
Continuous low drone
- fanfareCeremonial brass announcement
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- publicityMedia-driven awareness
- promotionRank increase or publicity
ballyhoo · sensationalism · puffery · exaggeration · overstatement · hyperbole · marketing · spin
Successful completion of aim
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- featRemarkable act of skill
success · victory · coup · attainment · landmark · graduation · promotion · wedding
Noisy, confused disturbance
- kerfuffleNoisy fuss or disturbance
- brouhahaNoisy public uproar
- hullabalooNoisy uproar or fuss
- uproarNoisy public disturbance
ado · to-do · hoopla · stir · scene · drama · ruckus · clamor
Praised beyond deserving
- so whatExpression of indifference
- whateverExpression of apathy
- who caresDismissive indifference expression
- nothing specialLacking distinction or note
trivial · minor · small potatoes · tempest in a teapot · anticlimactic · overhyped · molehill · trifle
significance
Quality of mattering
- consequenceResult of an action
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- weightMeasure of heaviness
magnitude · momentousness · substance · impact · priority · relevance · criticality · seriousness · prominence · noteworthiness
buzz
Continuous low drone
- fanfareCeremonial brass announcement
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- publicityMedia-driven awareness
promotion · ballyhoo · sensationalism · puffery · exaggeration · overstatement · hyperbole · marketing · spin · bluster
accomplishment
Successful completion of aim
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- breakthroughSudden important advance
feat · success · victory · coup · attainment · landmark · graduation · promotion · wedding · retirement
commotion
Noisy, confused disturbance
- kerfuffleNoisy fuss or disturbance
- brouhahaNoisy public uproar
- hullabalooNoisy uproar or fuss
uproar · ado · to-do · hoopla · stir · scene · drama · ruckus · clamor · foofaraw
overrated
Praised beyond deserving
- so whatExpression of indifference
- whateverExpression of apathy
- who caresDismissive indifference expression
nothing special · trivial · minor · small potatoes · tempest in a teapot · anticlimactic · overhyped · molehill · trifle · non-issue
high-stakes
Involving significant consequences
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- tensionStretched or strained state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
burden · urgency · deadline · crunch time · intensity · strain · weight · expectations · scrutiny · performance anxiety
- indifferenceapathy, indifference, unconcern, disinterest, nonchalance
- sarcasmyeah right, oh please, as if, oh really, how original
- dealsbargain, promo codes, transaction, coupon codes, discount
- dismissive responseswhatever, dismissal, meh, shrug, disregard
- sarcastic phraseswhatever, who cares, yeah right, so what, why bother
- smallnesssmall, little, tiny, mini, miniature