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understatements

A list of 85 words by ry.

About

certain words seem given to usage in understatement, as pat phrases, by the mechanism of cliché; others because restraint, moderation or ambiguity are implicit in the words' definitions; and others for reasons I can't guess. Certain quotable understatements have entered the cultural lexicon from film, fiction, history etc. litotes is a form of understatement (negation of the opposite, e.g., not too shabby), and all this has some Venn intersection with euphemism.

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  • bilby commented on the list understatements

    While I recognise the concept, I found it hard to think of terms to put on the list. For example I added tired and emotional and then took it off...it's more like a misdirection of attention than an understatement.

    December 29, 2012

  • ry commented on the list understatements

    I see what you're saying...maybe I'm hearing something different in my head when I read these than others would.

    December 31, 2012

  • bilby commented on the list understatements

    I liked you wouldn't like me when I'm angry. I know it's from The Incredible Hulk but it reminded me of Norman Bates too.

    December 31, 2012

  • bilby commented on the list understatements

    What about a parrot that's only a little bit dead?

    January 6, 2013

  • bilby commented on the list understatements

    four-letter word?

    January 8, 2013

  • alexz commented on the list understatements

    business speak "lost opportunity"

    August 26, 2017