1
be an understatement
用于强调实际情况比所说的话严重得多。
Calling the film bad would be an understatement.
说这部电影很差，恐怕是轻描淡写了。
轻描淡写；低调陈述；克制的说法
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
轻描淡写；低调陈述；克制的说法
a statement that deliberately makes something seem less important or serious than it really is, often for ironic effect
Calling the film bad would be an understatement.
说这部电影很差，恐怕是轻描淡写了。
常含修辞色彩，表示故意把事情说得比实际轻；与overstatement（夸大其词）相对。
轻描淡写或缺乏强调的实例；不完整的陈述。
An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis; an incomplete statement.
故意隐瞒相关信息的不完整披露。
An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information.
Saying the test was a bit difficult was an understatement; most students failed it.
说考试有点难其实是轻描淡写；大多数学生都没及格。
To call the traffic jam annoying would be an understatement after we waited for two hours.
在等了两个小时后，称交通堵塞令人恼火已算是轻描淡写了。
Her remark that the project had a few problems was a classic understatement.
她说项目有一些问题，这是一种典型的低调陈述。
用于强调实际情况比所说的话严重得多。
Calling the film bad would be an understatement.
说这部电影很差，恐怕是轻描淡写了。
It is an understatement to say that the new system had some problems.
说新系统存在一些问题，其实是低估了。
此义侧重少报、低估，常用于财务语境。
The figures show an understatement of the company's liabilities.
这些数字显示公司负债被少报了。
Not this
It is understatement to say he is good at chess.
Use this
It is an understatement to say he is good at chess.
understatement是可数名词，表示“一种轻描淡写的说法”，在句中作表语时需要不定冠词；中文没有冠词概念，容易漏掉an。
Not this
The report understatements the real damage.
Use this
The report understates the real damage.
understatement是名词，动词形式是understate。这里需要动词作谓语，不能用名词加s冒充动词。
Not this
His understatement of the project's cost was serious.
Use this
His underestimate of the project's cost was serious.
understatement指“低调陈述，轻描淡写”，而“对成本的低估”应用underestimate（名词/动词）。这是词义混淆。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
是轻描淡写；说得太轻了
To say the concert was good is an understatement—it was unforgettable.
说这场音乐会好听是轻描淡写——它令人难忘。
严重轻描淡写的说法
Calling the delay 'minor' was a gross understatement.
把延误称为“小事”是对事实的严重轻描淡写。
英式低调陈述；英国式的轻描淡写
'It's a bit chilly' is a classic example of British understatement.
“有点冷”是英式低调陈述的典型例子。
年度最轻描淡写的话；极度克制的说法
Saying he was 'slightly annoyed' was the understatement of the year.
说他“有点恼火”是今年最轻描淡写的话。
毫不夸张地说
It is no understatement to say this decision changed our lives.
毫不夸张地说，这个决定改变了我们的生活。
这么说太轻了；这样说还不足以表达
The service at that hotel was not great—that's an understatement.
那家酒店的服务可不怎么样——这么说还太轻了。
说……是轻描淡写
To say I'm tired is an understatement.
说我很累都是轻描淡写。
年度最轻描淡写的话；极度轻描淡写
Calling the weather "a bit chilly" was the understatement of the year.
说天气“有点冷”真是年度最轻描淡写的话了。
这是今年最轻描淡写的说法。
Used sarcastically when someone makes an obvious understatement, such as calling a heatwave 'a bit warm'.
当某人把热浪说成“有点暖和”这种明显的轻描淡写时，人们会讽刺地说这句话。
Use understatement naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
under（低）+ statement（陈述）→把话说低，即轻描淡写。
语域：neutral 常见场景：日常对话、学术或文学讨论、新闻报道 该词为中性语体，日常对话和正式写作中都比较常见；在文学或修辞讨论中指“低调陈述”这一手法，在一般表达中则常用来强调某说法过于保守。具体含义需看搭配。
真正与 understatement 押韵的是 statement 和 misstatement，它们的重读元音及之后部分与 understatement 一致（/steɪtmənt/）。注意 movement、arrangement、basement、treatment 虽然都以 -ment 结尾，且词尾发音都是 /mənt/，但重读元音不同或重读元音后的辅音不同，并不押韵。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.