Understatement
Deliberate downplaying or minimising for effect, often creating irony or humour.
Real World
After the Titanic sank, a survivor reportedly described it as 'a bit of a setback' — the extreme understatement reflecting the British tendency to suppress trauma through restraint.
Exam Focus
Contrast what is said with what is meant; examiners reward analysis of the gap between language and reality.
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