Harry: Haven’t seen you for ages. Let’s have a get-together next week.
Jenny: It’s a deal.
=> Do you think the use of “it’s a deal” in that conversation is natural? I ask so because it’s always seemed to me that when people use “it’s a deal!” or “deal!”, there seems to be some condition between the two speakers. For instance:
A: I’ll do the washing for you, and you’ll ride me to school tomorrow, all right?
B: deal! / it’s a deal
I don’t know if I’ve understood the word correctly. i just think so because I often see it used in such cases (from American films)
It is an example of how a commercial type expression has transferred to ordinary conversation and has become a figure of speech. ‘It’s a deal’ simply means (as a figure of speech) ‘Let’s do that/Let’s agree to do that.’
There are other examples: ‘I’ll buy that’ suggests: ‘That seems a good idea’. ‘My money’s on ***to win the election’ means: ‘I support *** to win the election’.
Thanks a lot, Alan, but what do you mean by “***” in your last post? (people or action?)
By the way, could you please tell me what “mind you” in this sentence mean:
Mind you! He’s a very nice fellow though bad-tempered
(I think I can somehow understand the phrase, but I’m not sure I understand it correctly, so please let me know your idea - thank you so much)
The asterisks *** are simply a substitute for the name of someone. ‘Mind you’ is a common conversational remark meaning something like: Of course/ It’s true to say/ But don’t forget.
