To say the least, to say the least of it

To say the least 意為「至少可以說」,表示實際的情況比所說的更加嚴重、更壞、更重要、更好等等,通常用於句末,其前通常有逗點。這個片語首次出現在 1700 年代,現在大多用於美國,但它在整個英語世界的使用頻率與日俱增。To say the least of it 也意為「至少可以說」,與 to say the least 為完全同義詞。《牛津英語大辭典》(The Oxford English Dictionary, OED) 將 to say the least of it 列為英式英語偏愛的形式,但實際的情況是,即使在英國,to say the least 仍比 to say the least of it 常用得多。

例句:

  • This is ridiculous, to say the least. (至少可以說這是荒唐可笑的)
  • The dinner was tasteless, to say the least. (至少可以說這晚餐淡而無味)
  • When Amy found her lost diamond ring, she was extremely delighted, to say the least. (當艾美找到她遺失的鑽戒時,至少可以說,他高興極了)
  • I am not at all satisfied with the book, to say the least of it. (至少可以說我對這本書一點都不滿意)
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One Comment

  1. 我想「輕描淡寫」也是一個不錯的翻譯?

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