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 所给的解释是：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.也就说，这种修辞格式故意使用有节制的修辞来陈述事实，故意清描淡写，借低调与弱化语言形式来表示强调。所以Understatement故意采取低调，化大为小，是deliberately minimize the importance 和play down。一般说来，英语Understatement并无固定格式，通常可以通过词典和语法手段体现。
1、用词汇手段来体现
According to the newspaper， the driver， who was returning from a wedding， seemed puzzled. I only had two bottle of beer and a cocktail.
据报道，那位参加完一个婚礼后往回赶的司机一脸迷惑地说：我只不过喝了两瓶啤酒，一杯鸡尾酒罢了。
此句话中的seemd puzzled 以及only 把酒后驾车司机的`那种不负责任的态度刻画的淋漓尽致，令人厌恶。
2、用语法手段来体现
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.
