Underplaying: meaning, definitions and examples
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underplaying
[ ˌʌndərˈpleɪɪŋ ]
exaggeration avoidance
Underplaying refers to the act of downplaying or minimizing the significance, impact, or importance of something. It involves representing a situation or an emotion as less serious or severe than it actually is.
Synonyms
diminish, downplay, minimize, understate.
Examples of usage
- She was underplaying her role in the project's success.
- His calm demeanor was seen as him underplaying the seriousness of the situation.
- The director is underplaying the film's darker themes.
- Despite her achievements, she continues to underplay her talents.
Translations
Translations of the word "underplaying" in other languages:
🇵🇹 subestimar
🇮🇳 कम करके बताना
🇩🇪 untertreiben
🇮🇩 meremehkan
🇺🇦 зменшувати значення
🇵🇱 bagatelizować
🇯🇵 過小評価する
🇫🇷 minimiser
🇪🇸 minimizar
🇹🇷 küçümsemek
🇰🇷 과소평가하다
🇸🇦 التقليل من
🇨🇿 podceňovat
🇸🇰 podceňovať
🇨🇳 低估
🇸🇮 podcenjevati
🇮🇸 vanmeta
🇰🇿 төмендету
🇬🇪 დაბალი შეფასება
🇦🇿 kiçiltmək
🇲🇽 minimizar
Etymology
The term 'underplay' originated in the early 20th century and is derived from the compound of 'under' and 'play'. The word 'under' indicates a lesser degree or amount of something, while 'play' has roots in Old English 'pleggen', which means to engage in activity or action. Hence, 'underplaying' evolved to describe scenarios where someone might not fully engage in or showcase the true level of significance or seriousness of a matter. Within various context settings like performance, communication, or emotional expression, underplaying can oftentimes serve as a tactic to maintain humility or to avoid causing alarm. It reflects a cultural tendency where individuals downplay achievements or emotions to foster an environment of collaboration rather than competition.
Word Frequency Rank
At position #40,033, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.