underspeak

名词 n. 动词 v.
中文释义

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. Speech that is characterized by understatement. uncountable
    — But that really is a piece of marketing underspeak for this fantastic fetid backplot.
动词 v.
  1. To speak with understatement and/or modesty.
    — Dentists often underspeak and therefore underrate dental conditions. Patients interpret these words to mean there is no problem, only to be surprised later when they learn treatment will be required.
  2. To fail to say enough; to be too taciturn.
    — By a remarkable analysis of what he called Churchill's "peculiar gift of overwriting and underspeaking," Burton also managed to leave us — as after one of Sir Winston's own speeches — with a feeling of love and of thanks for the privilege of living in the same age with Churchill.
  3. To speak without sufficient emphasis or volume.
    — She was obviously nervous, and consequently underacted and underspoke her part several times ; yet, with her musical speech and natural manner, she should be a considerable acquisition to the company.
  4. To speak at the same time as and more quietly than another.
    — Today subliminal messages are sent by “underspeaking" on television, radio, and records and “invisigraph" (invisible messages) on printed ads.

词形变化

underspeaks present,singular,third-person underspeaking participle,present underspoke past underspoken participle,past

词源

词源 1
From under- + speak.
词源 2
From under- + speak.
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