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to say the least

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to say the least

at the very least; without overemphasizing the subject; to put it mildly. We were not at all pleased with her work—to say the least. When they had an accident, they were upset to say the least.

See also: least, say

to say the least

to not mention as much as you could about something The dinner was tasteless, to say the least.

See also: least, say

to say the least

Not to exaggerate, as in When the ring turned up in the lost and found, she was delighted, to say the least. This idiom was first recorded in 1809.

See also: least, say