Confusion about 大したこと(で)(は)ない


There are three variations on this phrase that I can find in Google, and I'm
not sure whether all three are really used, or how frequently. But I am
confused about the differences between them.

> 大{たい}したこと **では** ない

I believe this means "(It's) not a big deal." Ok, I understand.

> 大{たい}したこと **は** ない

Isn't this different from the first sentence? It seems to mean "There aren't
any particularly big problems."

> 大{たい}したことない

This one could go either way.




Your understanding of the first two variations is correct. The sound quite
formal, maybe something like:

  1. "This is nothing important, really" 
  2. "There is nothing important, really" 

Last variation is more colloquial, maybe something like:

  3. "No big deal"

