What Is the Over Under in Sports Betting? Totals Explained

By downplaying a situation, it can make the conversation lighter or less serious. For instance, saying “We have a bit of a problem” during a big crisis can make the situation feel less overwhelming. Now that we’ve covered an understatement definition, let’s look at some examples to see the myriad of ways it can be used — from comedy to threats and fear. While understatement intends to belittle something with or without irony, the function of anti-climax is to bring down the expectations after raising them to such a point, that its fall causes disappointment.

• If verbal irony is saying the “opposite” of what you mean, understatement is simply saying “less” of what you mean.
• At the core, they look at team offensive and defensive efficiency, pace of play, player injuries, recent performance, and even head-to-head history.
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• In literature, understatement has played a significant role as a stylistic choice to add depth and nuance to character interactions and storytelling.

We’ve seen him calmly dealing with his fear of sharks and the ocean for most of the movie, which makes this understated moment layered with meaning, in line with his character, and perfectly delivered. We brought the script for The Wizard of Oz into StudioBinder’s Screenwriting Software so you can see how it was written — not just the line itself but how the action description around it informs its delivery. Totals don’t stay fixed, as they often move when sportsbooks react to what is an understatement new information or heavy betting action. Both sportsbooks give bettors flexibility beyond the standard total, making them strong choices if you like to mix in alt lines and prop-based Over/Under bets. There are several sportsbook where which you can bet on the Over/Under for games.

In non-ironic understatement, the literal meanings are a fact that is being presented without any pretensions. An understatement usually has an ironic effect, as an equally intense response is expected in severe situations, but the statement in response is the opposite of what was expected. For instance, your friend returns your new coat with a large wine stain on the front of it. In response, you make an understatement, “It doesn’t look too bad.” Therefore, an understatement is opposite to another figure of speech, hyperbole, which is an overstatement.

When used ironically, understatements are powerful tools for humor and depth. When used unironically, understatements can be used to downplay expressions that would otherwise come off as inappropriate or immodest, such as saying “I did alright” after winning an Olympic gold medal. Understatement can also be used for comedic effect, typically as a form of irony. In general, irony refers to an event that occurs, which is the opposite of or highly unlike what is expected. An understatement is a comment that severely underplays the seriousness or traumatic nature of an event, and so it is unlike the expected response. Understatement is a rhetorical device in which a speaker or writer deliberately makes something seem less important or severe than it actually is.

• It avoids embellishment not out of caution, but to keep the line exact and controlled.
• When the phrasing seems too mild for the occasion, the surrounding context sharpens its impact.
• A polite understatement can be used in difficult situations when you may disagree with someone’s opinion but still want to remain polite.
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• It intentionally downplays the significance, severity, or intensity of a situation or event.

Understatement is a figure of speech in which something is deliberately presented as smaller, less important, or less serious than it really is. Sometimes, we say less than we really mean, and that is exactly what an understatement is. It is a clever and often humorous way of expressing something by making it sound less important, smaller, or milder than it actually is. With these guidelines in mind, understatement can enhance communication and foster more meaningful connections with others. This statement suggests that the problem is, in fact, quite significant, and the understatement serves to highlight the magnitude of the issue. Ultimately, understatement in social media enables users to communicate complex ideas or emotions effectively, while maintaining a respectful and positive tone.

Perhaps your next stop should be overstatement to round out this pair of similar subtypes. If there is a particular form of irony you want to explore further, just follow the navigation below. Each one of these subtypes of irony belongs in every writer’s toolkit. The fact that she downplays this statement suggests the enormity of her wonder. If she had stated the obvious, it just wouldn’t have been that interesting — added to that, it adds a layer of humor as well. While the primary aim of ironic understatement is mockery, in nonironic understatements the literal meaning is portrayed as it is.

Can Understatements Be Confusing?

Remember, the power of understatement lies in its subtlety and the effects it can achieve. Whether it’s adding a touch of irony or simply downplaying something, understatement is a powerful tool in the hands of a skillful writer or speaker. Writers use understatement to create irony, add humor, soften the impact of a serious topic, or make the situation seem less significant than it actually is. It allows them to convey meaning in a subtle way and helps in making a strong contrast between reality and the words being used. It can also be used for rhetorical effect, guiding the reader’s focus toward the most important aspects of a situation by downplaying others. Understatement is a figure of speech often used in everyday conversations, literature, and various forms of media.

Purpose and Effects

Litotes carries a specifically ironic edge by using negative constructions. We offer courses, books on literary devices with clear phrase examples and writing lessons with writing helping material that help you master your art. Figures of speech that are related to understatement include hyperbole, litotes, and euphemism. In this scene, after being wounded in a duel, Mercutio dismissively refers to his injury as “a scratch” to downplay its severity.

While understatement involves downplaying the significance of a situation, litotes specifically employs negation for a similar effect. This technique is commonly used in literature, everyday conversation, and various forms of communication to add nuance, wit, or emphasis to the conveyed message. Understatement is a common tool used to create subtle humor, soften strong emotions, or make something sound less intense than it actually is. To help you recognize and utilize understatement, this section provides some practical suggestions for incorporating it in writing or speech, emphasizing the importance of context, tone, and audience awareness.

The comedy arises from the mismatch between tone and circumstance, making the understatement the mechanism of wit. Understatement compresses emotional force rather than suppressing it. This technique becomes especially effective in writing that confronts devastation without embellishment.

You may read the instructions below and begin with the questions. Besides, an answer key is also provided at the end of the worksheet. Above all, understatement is a way of emphasizing what it downplays. “Toni Morrison has a few fans” is an understatement; winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Morrison is one of the world’s most celebrated writers.

Understatement is a type of verbal irony that turns language into an opportunity to say a lot with a little. Mastering this type of verbal irony is a great tool for any writer looking to bring sophistication and nuance to their dialogue. Let’s define understatement with examples that show just how versatile it can be. The speaker, Lane, saying that he has been married only once, subtly suggests that he has limited experience in marriage. This is an understatement as it contrasts with the common assumption that one marriage provides an extensive understanding of marital life.

The language recedes, and what remains is shaped by omission rather than excess. The storm flooded the entire city, but the mayor said, “We had a bit of rain last night.” For example, saying “It’s just a scratch” when seriously injured is an understatement. It can also be used modestly to avoid boasting or to soften criticism.

It intentionally downplays the significance, severity, or intensity of a situation or event. Understatement is an expression of lesser strength than what the speaker or writer actually means or than what is normally expected. It is the opposite of embellishment or exaggeration, and is used for emphasis, irony, hedging, or humor. A particular form of understatement using negative syntax is called litotes. This is not to be confused with euphemism, where a polite phrase is used in place of a harsher or more offensive expression. Understatement is a figure of speech wherein the speaker deliberately downplays or minimizes the significance of a situation, typically for comedic or rhetorical effect.