a large understatement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large understatement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize that a statement or description is significantly less than the reality of a situation. Example: "Saying that the storm caused some damage is a large understatement; it completely destroyed several homes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is rather a large understatement to say there might have been a few obstacles to that scenario – the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, and the club's supporters would not countenance it – but the fact that a manager at a club of Tottenham's stature wanted Campbell was a reminder of the status the defender still enjoyed.

The Guardian - Sport

To say my Mom was fierce would be a large understatement.

Vice

However, the annual number of visits to CSW's may seem unrealistic, since it is four times higher than that found in surveys, and therefore assumes a large understatement, but the same results could be obtained with four-times higher transmission rates, which is consistent with the likely presence of co-infection with STI's.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

That's a big understatement.

The New York Times

Saying that HIV/AIDS has had a large impact in SSA is a gross understatement.

Global Health Action

"You can never really define shelters from an objective set of rules," he said, "and that is why you also need an understatement penalty large enough that it encourages taxpayers to police themselves".

The New York Times

I guess "fairly large" is an understatement.

Huffington Post

A bit of an understatement.

Forbes

Great is an understatement.

The New York Times - Sports

Big was an understatement.

Los Angeles Times

To say the refuge is off the beaten path is an understatement — the two closest large cities are Bend, Oregon, 150 miles to the west, and Boise, Idaho more than 200 miles to the east.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a large understatement" to create emphasis and dramatic effect when describing situations or events that are far more significant than a simple statement suggests. It works best when the reality contrasts sharply with the mild description.

Common error

Avoid using "a large understatement" too frequently in casual conversation, as it can sound overly formal or sarcastic. Reserve it for situations where its emphatic effect is truly warranted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large understatement" functions as an intensifier used to highlight the inadequacy of a statement in capturing the true extent of a situation. As Ludwig AI states, it's used to emphasize that a description falls far short of reality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a large understatement" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the insufficiency of a statement in describing a situation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Although its frequency is relatively rare, it appears in reputable sources like the New York Times and The Guardian. It functions to add emphasis, and should be reserved for scenarios where the reality notably exceeds what's being described. For alternative phrasing, consider "a gross understatement" or "a huge understatement" for similar effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a gross understatement

Emphasizes the significant difference between the statement and the reality.

a huge understatement

Indicates a substantial difference, adding a sense of scale.

a considerable understatement

Highlights the notable extent to which something is downplayed.

a significant understatement

Focuses on the importance or consequence of what is being minimized.

a massive understatement

Suggests an extremely large disparity between the statement and the actual situation.

a wild understatement

Implies the understatement is so big that is also outrageous or difficult to accept.

a vast understatement

Indicates an expansive or wide-ranging disparity.

a severe understatement

Emphasizes the seriousness or intensity of the reality being understated.

a total understatement

Highlights the completeness or absoluteness of the understatement.

a major understatement

Indicates something of great importance or size is significantly downplayed.

FAQs

How can I use "a large understatement" in a sentence?

You can use "a large understatement" to emphasize that a statement is significantly less than the reality of a situation. For example, "To say he was unhappy is "a large understatement"; he was devastated."

What are some alternatives to "a large understatement"?

Alternatives include "a gross understatement", "a huge understatement", or "a significant understatement" depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a large understatement" in formal writing?

Yes, "a large understatement" is suitable for formal writing when you want to highlight the disparity between a statement and the reality it represents. However, consider the specific context and audience to ensure it is the most effective choice.

What's the difference between "a large understatement" and "an understatement"?

"An understatement" simply means something is presented as less important than it is. "A large understatement" amplifies this, indicating the difference between the statement and reality is substantial.