understate it
[/ˌʌndərˈsteɪt ɪt/]
verb phrase
subestimar isso, minimizar isso, não dar a devida importância
1. to describe something as less important, serious, or significant than it actually is; to downplay or minimize the extent or severity of something
The damage from the hurricane was severe, but the initial reports seemed to understate it.
Os danos do furacão foram graves, mas os relatórios iniciais pareciam minimizar isso.
2. to express something with restraint or in a deliberately muted way to create a subtle effect
She tends to understate it when talking about her accomplishments.
Ela tende a subestimar quando fala sobre suas conquistas.
In American English, 'understate it' is often used to describe a deliberate communication style that avoids exaggeration, sometimes considered more sophisticated or credible. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'minimizar' and 'subestimar' capture this idea, though Brazilians may more commonly use phrases like 'fazer de menos' in casual speech. The concept is valued in professional and academic contexts in both cultures as a mark of measured judgment.
NYC Slang
play it down, lowball it
Related Idioms & Phrases
to make light of something
to brush something under the rug
to downplay something
not do justice to something
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