NBD

What Does NBD Mean in a Text?

image for No Big Deal, showing the letters NBD

"NBD," short for "No Big Deal," is commonly used in informal communication to signify that something is unimportant or not worth worrying about. It is typically used as:

A declaration of modesty or to undermine a boast. (In this case, it means "It's not as special as you think it is.")
A show of support for someone's declaration of woe. (In this case, it means "It's not as bad as you think it is.")

For example:

Ali: I've been nominated for a bravery award.
Chris: Wow, well done!
Ali: It's NBD. Anyone would have done it.

Toni: I got an A in Italian. It's NBD.
Jordan: Of course it's NBD. You are Italian!

Lee: Sam has left me. I've got no one to go to the prom with.
Jo: NBD. I might be available.

NBD is one of many ways of indicating that something is not important. Other include:

INBD - It's no big deal.
NABD - Not a big deal.
No biggie - No big deal.

Image for NBD

When I write NBD, I mean this:

NBD means something is unimportant or not worth worrying about.

Summary of Key Points

"No Big Deal" is, by far, the most common meaning for NBD when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

NBD
Definition:	No Big Deal
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at NBD

image for academic look, showing a teacher with a mortar board

NBD is most commonly used as a standalone declarative sentence (i.e., a statement), meaning "It is no big deal." When it is used in a wider sentence, NBD is used as a noun. When NBD is expanded, it is a noun phrase based on the common noun deal. The words no and big are adjectives modifying deal.

NBD is an initialism abbreviation, as it is pronounced using its individual letters. Initialisms contrast with acronyms, which are abbreviations spoken as words.