downplay
part of speech
verb (downplay, downplays, downplayed, downplaying)
meaning for a pupil
1) To downplay something means to make it seem smaller, less important or less serious than it really is. tree →
2) Downplaying your own success means talking about it modestly, so you do not seem to show off. tree →
sense in the lessons
In lessons on hyperbole and understatement, downplaying is the opposite of exaggerating: saying «it's just a scratch» about a deep cut. In the news, leaders sometimes downplay a problem, and readers should ask whether it is worse than they say. In safety: never downplay an injury or a danger; tell an adult. Phrases: downplay the danger, downplay the problem, downplay your role.
examples
- He downplayed his injury, but his ankle was badly swollen. tree →
- «It was nothing,» she said, downplaying her prize. tree →
- The company tried to downplay the size of the oil spill. tree →
- Don't downplay a bad headache; tell the nurse. tree →
- The team captain downplayed her part in the win. tree →
- Understatement is a way of downplaying something on purpose for effect. tree →
- The mayor downplayed the flood risk, and many people were not ready. tree →
note
Regular verb: downplayed, downplaying. One word, no hyphen. Opposite: exaggerate, overstate, play up. Downplaying can be modest and kind (about your own success) or dishonest (hiding how bad a danger is). Similar: play down («play down the problem»).
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «downplay» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.