understate

英 [ˌʌndəˈsteɪt]

美 [ˌʌndərˈsteɪt]

v.  轻描淡写; 避重就轻地说

过去分词：understated　过去式：understated　第三人称单数：understates　现在分词：understating　复数：understates　

GRETEM8

Collins.1 / BNC.15122 / COCA.12982

牛津词典

verb

• 轻描淡写；避重就轻地说
  to state that sth is smaller, less important or less serious than it really is
  1. It would be a mistake to understate the seriousness of the problem.
     对该问题的严重性轻描淡写是错误的。

柯林斯词典

• VERB 不充分如实地陈述；对…轻描淡写；打折扣地说
  If youunderstatesomething, you describe it in a way that suggests that it is less important or serious than it really is.
  1. The government chooses deliberately to understate the increase in prices...
     政府故意对物价上涨轻描淡写。
  2. That understates my commitment to the orchestra.
     那没有充分表达我对管弦乐队的热爱。

英英释义

verb

• represent as less significant or important
  Synonym:minimizeminimisedownplay

双语例句

• Understate one's losses, eg of money, troops I get only meagre pay.
  少报损失（如金钱、兵员的损失）.我只得到很少的报酬。
• This figure may understate the problem, however.
  然而，这一数据可能低估了问题的严重程度。
• In addition, experience suggests that as the threat of a downturn increases, corporate leaders tend to understate it, in an attempt to maintain morale among staff, customers and investors.
  此外，经验表明，当经济低迷的威胁加剧时，企业领袖往往会加以淡化，试图保持员工、客户和投资者的士气。
• Furthermore, these numbers understate the gap in living conditions between the US and Brics countries.
  而且，这些数字低估了美国和金砖四国（Brics）生活条件之间的差距。
• However, just as we are apt to forget the negatives when equities are rallying hard, we are also prone to understate the positives during periods of volatility.
  然而，就像我们在股市强劲上扬之时容易忘记负面因素一样，我们往往也会在股市波动期间低估正面因素。
• If discouraged workers have left the labour force because they could not find a job, then the unemployment rate may understate the hardship they face.
  如果因为他们不可能找到工作，丧失信心的劳动者们已经丧失了劳动的能力，这个失业率，不可能让人真正估计到他们所面对的困难。
• It used the pension funding ratios calculated by the states themselves, which almost certainly understate the size of the hole.
  它利用的养老金资金供应比例是由各州自行计算的，这些数据几乎肯定低估了缺口的规模。
• Factory managers understate their potential output.
  工厂的管理人员少报他们的潜在产量。
• Men have done even better. And that may well understate the leisure gains.
  男性的情况更加可观。而且这很可能还低估了实际增加的空闲时间。
• Some landlords understate their production figures to avoid tax.
  有些地主少报产量以逃税。