underplaying
present participle ofunderplay
underplay
verb[T]
uk/ˌʌn.dəˈpleɪ/us/ˌʌn.dɚˈpleɪ/to make something such as adangeroussituationseemlessimportantordangerousthan it really is:
While notwantingto underplay theseriousnessof thesituation, I have to say that it is not asbadaspeopleseemtothink.
Exaggerating & playing down
- bloviate
- blowsomethingout of proportionidiom
- cartoonish
- catastrophize
- dramatization
- dramatize
- exaggerate
- OTT
- over-egg
- overboard
- overdramatic
- overdramatize
- overembellish
- overplay
- overstatement
- pile
- proportion
- protest too muchidiom
- stretch the truthidiom
- understate
Examplesofunderplaying
underplaying
In English, many past and present participles of verbs can be used as adjectives. Some of these examples may show the adjective use.
Belief in the caring generosity of physicians falsifies what we know about them by emphasizing their virtues andunderplayingtheir other commitments and motivations.
From theCambridge English Corpus
It would seem that he isunderplayingthe situation.
From theCambridge English Corpus
An important outcome is a critique of the manner in which social policy emphasises the benefits of community-based care whilstunderplayingthe potential of institutional care.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Whilst notunderplayingthe surgical complexities, they can be successfully separated.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Keil's careful and convincing justification forunderplayingthese lies in the presentation of his work as a grounding into which the ' ' dangling cause ' ' of culture can be reintroduced.
From theCambridge English Corpus
I am not deliberatelyunderplayingit, but it is unnecessary to exaggerate it.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I still believe that we areunderplayingthe issue.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Anyunderplayingof recreation will be regarded as controversial by recreation interests and will be likely to lead to new controversy and conflict.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There is nothing to be gained from overplaying the agreement but a great deal to be lost fromunderplayingit.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They do our teachers and children a grave disservice by ignoring orunderplayingteachers' achievements and successes.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He was very muchunderplayingit.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I do not think that anyone will accuse me ofunderplayingthe serious effect that serious crime can have on its victims or the way it undermines a settled society.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He just revels in it,underplayingit with finesse.
From
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.Any instance ofunderplayingmay conceivably result in docked wages.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.He was noted for his comic timing andunderplayinga character in the true sense of the word.
FromThis example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
- take a stand
- take back
- take by surprise
- take care
- take care of
- take charge of
- take delight in
- take down
- take effect
- take exception to
- take for
- take for a ride
- take for granted
- take hold of
- take ill
- take in
- take into account
- take it easy
- take it out in
- take it out of
- take it out on
- take leave of
- take liberties with
- take note of
- take notice of