Understatement

[xoleoni97]

Hi guys I'm so confused about the word "understatement". I've looked out that word in a dictionary and it means sorta like "underestimate", but I'm kinda confused when I have to put it in a sentence. Such as when people say "Saying that we're proud of them would be an understatement". It seems like my brain can't process that sentence. So do you mind explaining me what "understatement" is and give me some example?


Thank you xx

 

[Matthew Wai]

"Saying that we're proud of them would be an understatement".

I simply take it to mean 'We're extremely proud of them'.

Not a teacher.

 

[SoothingDave]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understatement

"Understatement" is to minimize something. This is usually done on purpose. Like when you see a very attractive woman and say "she's not too bad looking."

Or when you have a flood and you comment "it looks like it rained a bit."

The sentence about being proud is stating that they are so proud that to say they are proud would be to understate it.

 

[Rover_KE]

Hi guys. [STRIKE][/STRIKE] Please don't use home-made emoticons to replace punctuation marks. If you want to insert a smiley, use the :-D icon.

I've looked up that word in a dictionary and it means sort of like "underestimate", but I'm [STRIKE]kinda[/STRIKE] confused when I have to put it in a sentence.


Thank you. [STRIKE] xx[/STRIKE] See above. In any case, you don't need to thank us till you've got a useful answer, when you can click the Thank button.

'Sorta' and 'kinda' are not acceptable in this forum. You don't need to use 'kind of' at all.

 

[xoleoni97]

Thank you so much

 

[Matthew Wai]

xoleoni97, clicking on the 'Thank' button can obviate the need for a new post saying 'Thank you', such is one of the many unwritten rules on this forum.

Not a teacher.

 

[Rover_KE]

Thank you so much. [STRIKE][/STRIKE]

Did you not read post #4?