litotes

Everyday

1. Litotes is a kind of understatement where you say something by saying that its opposite is not true, like «not bad» meaning «good» or «not a small problem» meaning «a big problem». tree →
2. It is a figure of speech, a way of using words for a special effect. tree →

In the lessons

In lessons on hyperbole and understatement, litotes is a cousin of understatement: «She's not unfriendly» means she is fairly friendly; «It's not the worst idea» means it is quite good. It is very common in British and Irish speech and in old poems such as Beowulf. It can sound modest, polite, ironic or dry. Phrases: an example of litotes, using litotes.

Examples

• «Not bad at all,» said Dad, which is litotes for «very good». tree →
• «He's no fool» is an example of litotes. tree →
• Saying a hurricane is «not exactly a light breeze» uses litotes. tree →
• We found three examples of litotes in the poem. tree →
• «I wasn't unhappy with my mark» means I was pleased. tree →
• Old English poets loved litotes, like «that was no small gift». tree →

Note

Said «LY-toe-teez» or «ly-TOE-teez» (four sounds, the final -es says «eez»). It is the same word for one example or many. Litotes uses a double negative on purpose: «not unkind» = kind (a bit). The opposite figure of speech is hyperbole (big exaggeration).