What's this whole 'not that big OF a deal' thing going on?

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

I've been hearing this more and more, mostly on American programmes - people saying 'it's not that big of a deal'. Why the of?

And today spotted this on Twitter

"an experiment to see just how small of a box Maru the cat will get into"

what do you mean, how small of a box? don't you mean how small a box?

where has this come from? arrrgh.

I don't know, but it ties in with 'off of' which is becoming more prevalent, too. As in, 'that actor off of Coronation Street'.

Wrong.

It's an Americanism, people on Judge Judy say it all the time.

That doesn't make it right, hairytriangle

They must be told.

We watched 24 last night and "I'm on it" was said by at least three characters about seven times.

Then this morning Ben 10 said it. I can't get away.

Oh yes, that "it's not that big of a deal" thing irritates me as well. And also the "off of".

But, as hairytriangle says, it's an Americanism, bless 'em. They don't get enough British TV over there to teach them the error of their ways.