Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1Persuading the entire board to reverse its decision was ............... achievement.
Wrong!
The phrase "no small" is a conventional understated way to mean significant or impressive, especially before nouns such as achievement.
2Losing three major clients in a week was not exactly ...............
Wrong!
After "not exactly", "ideal" creates understatement by negating a positive word rather than stating the negative judgement directly.
3Given that the forecast missed revenue by twenty per cent, the assumptions now look ............... optimistic.
Wrong!
"Rather" makes the criticism measured and understated, whereas an intensifier such as extremely removes the understatement.
4A five-per-cent margin in this market is not to be ...............
Wrong!
"sniffed at" completes the idiom "not to be sniffed at", an understated way to say that something is worth taking seriously.
5Integrating two incompatible IT systems while meeting the regulator's deadline proved not entirely ...............
Wrong!
"not entirely straightforward" understates difficulty by gently negating a positive adjective; "not entirely difficult" would suggest the task was fairly easy, which does not fit.
6When the committee refused even to discuss the proposal, it showed a certain ...............
Wrong!
"lack of enthusiasm" after "a certain" gives a restrained, understated criticism of the committee's refusal to discuss the proposal.
7After the finance director admitted the figures were unaudited, investors were less than ...............
Wrong!
"less than impressed" is an understated way to say someone was displeased or critical.
8The error is embarrassing, but we can correct it before publication; it is hardly ...............
Wrong!
"hardly fatal" understates the seriousness of a mistake by saying it is not disastrous.
9Contradicting the chair in the opening minute was not the most ............... remark he could have made.
Wrong!
"not the most diplomatic" politely understates criticism of a tactless remark.
10Calling the prototype 'finished' before it had passed a single safety test now seems a touch ...............
Wrong!
"overconfident" with "a touch" makes the judgement deliberately mild and understated.
11With the launch postponed by eleven months, it would be ............... to say there were some delays.
Wrong!
"It would be fair to say there were some delays" deliberately understates an eleven-month postponement; "an exaggeration" would wrongly suggest there were hardly any delays.
12Losing the case that underpinned the whole strategy was a bit of a ............... for the legal team.
Wrong!
"setback" after "a bit of a" deliberately minimises the negative impact of losing a case central to the strategy.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Persuading the entire board to reverse its decision was no small achievement.
- Losing three major clients in a week was not exactly ideal.
- Given that the forecast missed revenue by twenty per cent, the assumptions now look rather optimistic.
- A five-per-cent margin in this market is not to be sniffed at.
- Integrating two incompatible IT systems while meeting the regulator’s deadline proved not entirely straightforward.
- When the committee refused even to discuss the proposal, it showed a certain lack of enthusiasm.
- After the finance director admitted the figures were unaudited, investors were less than impressed.
- The error is embarrassing, but we can correct it before publication; it is hardly fatal.
- Contradicting the chair in the opening minute was not the most diplomatic remark he could have made.
- Calling the prototype ‘finished’ before it had passed a single safety test now seems a touch overconfident.
- With the launch postponed by eleven months, it would be fair to say there were some delays.
- Losing the case that underpinned the whole strategy was a bit of a setback for the legal team.