‘No Biggie’: Definition, Meaning and Examples

Did someone say 'no biggie' and you’re wondering what it means? In this article, we’ll take a look at the meaning, origin, examples, and more.

In short:

• ‘No biggie’ is a slang phrase that means that something isn’t inconvenient or a problem.

Similar to ‘not a big deal’ and ‘no problem,’ this is a casual way to respond when someone apologizes or otherwise gives you the news that could potentially be construed as inconvenient.

What Does 'No Biggie' Mean?

‘No biggie’ is an informal phrase you can use to indicate that something isn’t a problem for you. When someone says ‘no biggie’ in response to something you’ve said, they mean that they aren’t troubled or inconvenienced at all by what you’re telling them.

• This is a shortened version of the phrase ‘no big deal.’

For example:

• If you’re at a restaurant and the waitress tells you that it’s going to be five more minutes for your entree, you might say ‘no biggie’ or ‘no big deal’ to tell her that it’s not a problem for you at all.

While this is a very common phrase, it’s worth noting that it is only appropriate in casual situations. If you’re attending a formal event or otherwise supposed to be on your best behavior, this phrase might be a little too flippant. Even choosing to say ‘no problem’ or ‘it’s not a big deal’ is less casual than ‘no biggie.’

Where Does 'No Biggie' Come From?

As you might imagine, ‘no biggie’ isn’t nearly as old as some of the idioms we discuss here. While some phrases reach back hundreds or even thousands of years, this one seems to only reach back a few decades.

Using the Google Books Ngram Viewer, we see that 'no biggie' seems to start showing up in texts as early as the 1980s. However, the phrase it originates from (‘no big deal’) seems to have started appearing in publications in the 1960s.

Examples of 'No Biggie' In Sentences

How would 'no biggie' be used in a sentence?

Let’s take a look at some examples:

• Person A: “I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it to the party until at least 9 pm– my boss asked me to work late.”

Person B: “No biggie! I don’t think most people are arriving until then anyway.”

• Person A: “Sorry for bothering you, but I was wondering if you could let me know how to get to the courthouse.”

Person B: “No biggie! You just have to drive straight through the light and you’ll see it on your left. You can’t miss it.”

• Person A: “I can’t believe it, but I left the report at the office. I’ll have to give it to you on Monday.”

Person B: “Not a problem at all– seriously, no biggie. Let’s just enjoy the weekend and I’ll take a look next week.”

• Person A: “Sarah spilled red wine all over the shirt you let her borrow. I told her to be careful because I knew you’d just bought brand new clothes, but she didn’t listen.”

Person B: “No biggie. Sometimes things happen.”

Other Ways to Say 'No Biggie'

What are some other words and phrases that have a similar meaning to 'no biggie'?

Here are some options to choose from:

• No big deal
• No sweat
• No problem
• No problemo
• No harm, no foul
• Not a big deal
• Small potatoes

Final Thoughts About 'No Biggie'

‘No biggie’ is an American slang phrase that means that something isn’t a problem or inconvenient. You can use this expression if someone apologizes to you or lets you know about something that could potentially be inconvenient. If you don’t feel troubled by what they’ve told you, you can simply say ‘no biggie.’

That being said, it’s important to remember this is a casual phrase. You wouldn’t want to use it in a formal business meeting or another event where slang isn’t appropriate.

Are you ready to learn more English phrases and expand your vocabulary? Be sure to check out our idioms blog for idioms, expressions, sayings, and more!