Understatement
Understatement的意思是：a statement that is not strong enough to express facts or feelings with full force。A Dictionary of Literary Terms 所給的解釋是：A figure of speech which contains an understatement of emphasis， and therefore the opposite of hyperbole. Often used in everyday speech and usually with laconic or ironic intentions.也就說，這種修辭格式故意使用有節制的修辭來陳述事實，故意清描淡寫，借低調與弱化語言形式來表示強調。所以Understatement故意採取低調，化大為小，是deliberately minimize the importance 和play down。一般說來，英語Understatement並無固定格式，通常可以通過詞典和語法手段體現。
1、用詞彙手段來體現
According to the newspaper， the driver， who was returning from a wedding， seemed puzzled. I only had two bottle of beer and a cocktail.
據報道，那位參加完一個婚禮後往回趕的司機一臉迷惑地說：我只不過喝了兩瓶啤酒，一杯雞尾酒罷了。
此句話中的seemd puzzled 以及only 把酒後駕車司機的`那種不負責任的態度刻畫的淋漓盡致，令人厭惡。
2、用語法手段來體現
Dont you figure out that I might have had something to do with it? said Soapy， not without sarcasm， but friendly， as one greets good fortune.
