Hyperbole and Understatement: Clarifying

​hyperbole and understatement: verbal ironies

Q1W4SY2223​

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This natural disaster ruined everything. There's nothing left.​

​Hyperbole cannot (typically) be true or possible.

​This was one of the worst natural disasters the state has ever faced.

​overstatement exceeds the truth but is possible.

​stretching the truth

Is there personification on this slide? Where so? +1 Charger Buck if you catch every instance.

Describing a huge overnight storm, a comedic understatement would be: "Looks like it rained a bit last night."

comedic understatement adds humor to an otherwise serious situation.

​that's an understatement

Betts, Jennifer. “Examples of Understatement: Meaning and Common Types.” Examples of Understatement: Meaning and Common Types, 17 Feb. 2022, examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-understatement.html.

You just worked a double shift. A comedic understatement would be: "I just need to rest my eyes for a minute."​

You got the top score in your class on a test. A modest understatement would be: "I did kind of OK."​

​modest understatement is used instead of bragging or boasting about something.

​that's an understatement

Betts, Jennifer. “Examples of Understatement: Meaning and Common Types.” Examples of Understatement: Meaning and Common Types, 17 Feb. 2022, examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-understatement.html.

You and a friend have polar political values, but when you two discuss politics together you simply say, "I think our opinions are slightly different on this matter."

polite understatement is used in difficult situations when you may still want to remain polite.

​that's an understatement

Betts, Jennifer. “Examples of Understatement: Meaning and Common Types.” Examples of Understatement: Meaning and Common Types, 17 Feb. 2022, examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-understatement.html.