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Glite Dictionary
small misunderstanding

small misunderstanding

1 2.8
A small problem when people do not understand each other
  • noun
  • /smɔl ˌmɪsʌndərˈstændɪŋ/
translation icon : pequeña malentendido
  • He assured her that their argument was only a small misunderstanding and nothing more serious.

Examples

  • This is a small misunderstanding.

    We're the Millers (2013)

  • I find it a small misunderstanding, Lieutenant.

    Bronco Billy (1980)

  • During the meeting, she realized there had been a small misunderstanding about the project deadline.

  • It's easy to have a small misunderstanding when discussing complicated topics.

Synonyms

misunderstanding
vssmall misunderstanding
243 1.6

When someone does not understand something correctly and this causes a problem

is specifically a minor, usually unimportant confusion between people
mix-up
vssmall misunderstanding
53 3.3

A mistake that happens when someone confuses one thing with another

is narrower, focusing on a small interpersonal confusion rather than item mixups
confusion
vssmall misunderstanding
48 1.8

A mistake when one thing is thought to be another

is less broad, applying to small shared confusions between people
miscommunication
vssmall misunderstanding
23 4.1

A failure to share information clearly that causes misunderstanding

is the same idea but stresses a small, usually harmless misinterpretation
slip-up
vssmall misunderstanding
13 3.7

A small careless mistake you make by accident

is about a brief miscommunication between people rather than a mere error
miscue
vssmall misunderstanding
4 7.7

A small unintentional mistake when speaking, writing, or performing an action

is similar but focuses on minor mutual confusion rather than performance errors
misprision
vssmall misunderstanding
  • Archaic
9.9

A wrong understanding of what someone wrote or said

is more informal and limited to small, everyday people-to-people confusion

How Serious

major screwup
  • Informal
1 5.6
small misunderstanding
1 2.8

Surface Forms

small misunderstanding singular
small misunderstandings plural

Morphology

small + misunderstanding

The meaning 'a minor instance of miscommunication' is directly and transparently composed from 'small' (indicating limited size or importance) modifying 'misunderstanding' (a failure to grasp meaning). This simple adjective + noun degree modification is a common, cross-linguistic compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase small misunderstanding comes from a simple image: two people hear or read something slightly wrong and for a short time they have different ideas. Because the problem is small (only a tiny error) and a misunderstanding (a wrong idea), it now means 'a minor mix-up' that is not serious.