to put it mildly


to put it mildly

To underemphasize or downplay something. This phrase is typically used without conjugating the infinitive "to put." A: "Oh, it was just a rain storm." B: "Yeah, to put it mildly. It was more like a hurricane!"See also: mildly, put

to put it mildly

 and put it mildlyto understate something; to say something politely. (Note the variation in the examples.) She was angry at almost everyone—to put it mildly. To say she was angry is putting it mildly. To put it mildly, she was enraged.See also: mildly, put

put it mildly

Understate, say without exaggeration, as in It's a fairly long way to walk, to put it mildly-twenty miles or so. [First half of 1900s] See also: mildly, put

put it ˈmildly

used for showing that you could have said something much stronger or more critical, etc: He was annoyed, to put it mildly (= he was very angry). ♢ ‘She said you didn’t like it.’ ‘That’s putting it mildly — it’s hideous!’See also: mildly, put