understate

英 [ˌʌndə'steɪt] 美 [ˌʌndər'steɪt]

• v. 轻描淡写地说；少说

英英释义

Verb:

1. represent as less significant or important

例句

用作动词 (v.)

1. To call this a security hole is to understate the point woefully.
   不幸的是,将它称之为安全性漏洞是轻描淡写的说法。
2. It would be a mistake to understate the seriousness of the problem.
   对问题严重性的轻描淡写是错误的。
3. Factory managers understate their potential output.
   工厂的管理人员少报他们的潜在产量。
4. She refuses on principle to understate her income for taxation purposes.
   她出于道德上的动机,不愿为了少纳税而少报收入。

经典引文

• These figures may well understate the truth.

  出自：Economist

近反义词

【近义词】

• minimize 将 ... 减到最少...
• play down 降低
• devalue 贬值
• belittle 轻视
• make little of 不重视
• minimise 尽量减少
• downplay 低估

【反义词】

• overstate 夸大的叙述