understate ♦︎ play sth down ♦︎ make light of sth ♦︎ minimize ♦︎ trivializeThese words all mean to state that sth is smaller, less important or less serious than it really is.这些词均表示轻描淡写、避重就轻地说。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆to understate / play down / minimize the importance / extent of sth◆to play down / minimize the significance / role of sb / sth◆to play down / make light of a problem◆to play down / trivialize an issue■understate ˌʌndəˈsteɪt; NAmEˌʌndərˈsteɪt [transitive] (ratherformal, especiallywritten) to state that sth is smaller, less important or less serious than it really is轻描淡写;避重就轻地说◆It would be a mistake to understate the seriousness of the problem.对该问题的严重性加以淡化是错误的。◆The figures probably understate the real unemployment rate.这些数字很可能低估了真实的失业率。OPPoverstate ⇨ exaggerate▸understatement
noun
[countable, uncountable] ◆To say we were pleased is an understatement(= we were extremely pleased).说我们满意,那可是说得太轻了。◆He always goes for subtlety and understatement in his movies.他总是在自己的电影中运用细腻刻画和淡化手法。■ˌplay sth ˈdown
phrasal verb
(ratherinformal, especially journalism尤用于新闻) to try to make sth seem less important or less serious than it really is使显得不重要;贬低;淡化◆The government has been playing down rumours of differences of opinion.政府一直在淡化有关意见分歧的传言。ⓘ Play sth down is often used by journalists to report attempts by governments or other organizations to stop people from losing confidence in them.新闻记者常用play sth down表示政府或其他组织企图淡化矛盾,防止人们对其失去信心。■make ˈlight of sth
idiom
(made, made)to treat sth as not serious or important轻视;对⋯等闲视之◆I didn't mean to make light of your injuries.我不是要把你的伤不当回事。◆Although he later made light of the experience, he had been in considerable danger.虽然他后来对那次经历轻描淡写,但当时他的处境相当危险。ⓘ When you make light of your own problems you try to have a positive attitude towards a difficult situation so that other people don't worry about it too much. If you make light of sb else's problems however, you may offend them, because they may think that you are suggesting that they are complaining about sth that is not really very serious. * make light of自己的困难,表示你对困境尽量采取积极的态度,使他人不过分担心。然而,如果你make light of别人的困难,也许就会得罪人,因为他们会以为你在暗示他们所抱怨之事并非真的很严重。■minimize (BrE alsominimise) ˈmɪnɪmaɪz to try to make sth seem less important or less serious than it really is使显得不重要;贬低;淡化◆He always tried to minimize his own faults, while exaggerating those of others.他总是试图对自己的错误轻描淡写,对别人的错误夸大其词。ⓘ Minimize is most often used to talk about people trying to make personal strengths or weaknesses seem less important, or with importance or significance to talk about people trying to make any action or event seem less important than it really is. * minimize最常用以表示试图使个人的长处或弱点显得不那么重要;或与importance或significance搭配,指让行为或事件显得不如实际那么重要。■trivialize (BrE alsotrivialise) ˈtrɪviəlaɪz [transitive] (ratherformal, usuallydisapproving) to make sth seem less important or less serious than it really is使显得琐碎(或不重要、不严重);轻视◆It is important not to trivialize children's worries.不轻视孩子的烦恼很重要。◆The magazine has been accused of trivializing serious issues.该杂志被指责对严肃的问题轻描淡写。