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Glite Dictionary
to say the least

to say the least

66 4.2
Shows that something is much worse than it seems
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : por decirlo suavemente
  • Three cases is a limited number, to say the least.
  • problematic, to say the least
  • difficult, to say the least
  • unusual, to say the least

Books are life changing to say the least.

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Examples

  • Your fortune the last few days has been impressive, to say the least.

    Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

  • If we fail, I stand to be put to considerable expense and inconvenience, to say the least.

    Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

  • So that was quite difficult to say the least for me.

  • There has been a lot that has gone on this week to say the least, depending on who you support.

  • The dance was nothing special to say the least.

    To the New Girl (2020)

  • Putting all these pieces together in a single study system will be difficult, to say the least.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Well, I am impressed to say the least.

    The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption (2012)

  • Peretz's term as Labor leader and defense minister did not go well, to say the least.

    Academic text (2011)

  • SHERIDAN: It's been a very long and very miserable few months for Mad Dog, to say the least.

    Warrior (2011)

  • The storm was intense, to say the least; many homes were damaged....

How Strong

frankly
∞ 3.2
to say the least
  • Informal
66 4.2

Surface Forms

to say the least positive

Morphology

to + say + the + least

The literal components ('say' + 'the least') transparently convey the idea of giving the smallest or mildest description, so a learner who knows the words can infer that something is being understated. However, the phrase functions as a conventionalized discourse marker with pragmatic force (like 'to put it mildly') that may not be fully predictable from the parts alone. Cross-linguistic equivalents (e.g. Spanish 'por decir lo menos') make the general logic accessible, but the idiomatic pragmatic use keeps it from being fully transparent.

Etymology

To say the least comes from the idea of saying as little as possible: the words say and the least create the picture of choosing the mildest version. So when people use it, they mean the real situation is stronger than what they said, so they are speaking in a 'milder' way.