Litotes
A figure of speech that affirms something by denying its opposite, often using understatement for effect. Litotes creates emphasis or ironic tone through deliberate understatement.
Real World
After landing on the moon, Neil Armstrong described it as 'one small step for man' — calling humanity's greatest achievement 'small' uses litotes to create memorable understatement.
Exam Focus
Explain what the negative construction actually affirms; marks come from unpacking the implied positive, not just spotting the device.
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