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Exaggeration and Understatement in English

We often use exaggeration and understatement in English to emphasise or downplay facts and emotions. For example:

It\’s quite warm today, isn\’t it? — Warm? It\’s absolutely boiling! 

Practice: Match the lines 1-10 with a line from a-j. Use your dictionary to look up new words.

1. I\’m absolutely dying for a drink!
2. His family are pretty well off, aren\’t they?
3. You must have hit the roof when she told you she\’d crashed your car.
4. I think Tony was a bit rude last night.
5. I can\’t stand the sight of him!
6. He isn\’t very bright, is he?
7. I\’m fed up with this weather! It\’s freezing.
8. Well, that was a fantastic holiday!
9. I\’m knackered. Can we stop for a rest?
10. They\’re obviously madly in love.

They do seem to get on quite well

1. Yes, it was a nice little break, but all good things must come to an end.
2. You\’re not kidding. He\’s as thick as two short planks.
3. Yes, my throat\’s a bit dry, I must say.
4. Too right! He was totally out of order.
5. I suppose it is a bit chilly.
6. Yeah, they do seem to get on quite well.
7. OK. I feel a bit out of breath too.
8. Well, yes, I was a bit upset.
9. You can say that again! They\’re absolutely loaded.
10. I must admit, I\’m not too keen on him either.

Just a bit upset

Scroll down for answers!

Answers

1c – 2i – 3h – 4d – 5j – 6b – 7e – 8a – 9g – 10f