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?
A: Have you heard - we're getting
a 1 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...
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.