downplay
/ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdau̇n-ˌplā/ (ame, mw)
downplay — 動詞
- downplaypresent simple I / you / we / they
- downplayshe / she / it
- downplayedpast simple
- downplaying-ing form
1. to try to make people think that something is less serious, significant, or harm
淡化；輕描淡寫
故意降低事物的嚴重性或重要性
to try to make people think that something is less serious, significant, or harmful than it actually is — often by the way you talk about it or present it to others
The energy company downplayed the environmental impact of the pipeline leak in its official statement.
那家能源公司在官方聲明中淡化了管線洩漏對環境的影響。
downplay + noun phrase: reducing perceived severity
Despite winning the award, Mei-Lin downplayed her achievement and thanked the whole team.
儘管贏得了獎項，Mei-Lin 仍淡化自己的成就，並感謝整個團隊。
contrast pattern: despite ... downplayed + achievement
Kwame downplayed the cuts on his hand, telling his mother it was nothing serious.
Kwame 淡化手上的傷口，告訴母親說沒什麼大不了的。
The government should not downplay the threat of rising sea levels along the coast.
政府不應該淡化沿海地區海平面上升的威脅。
Sofia downplayed how difficult the exam was so her younger sister would not worry.
Sofia 淡化考試的難度，好讓她妹妹不用擔心。
- play down
less formal phrasal verb; interchangeable in most contexts
- minimize
suggests reducing to the smallest possible degree, often with a calculated intent
- understate
more neutral; often used for deliberate restraint in expression or numbers
- trivialize
stronger negative tone; implies a dismissive or disrespectful treatment of something serious
- emphasize
to give special importance or prominence to something
- highlight
to draw strong attention to a particular fact or issue
- exaggerate
to make something seem larger, more important, or worse than it is
文法句型
downplay + noun phrase
downplay + wh-clause
用法筆記
Almost always transitive — the direct object is the issue, event, or quality being made to seem less important (e.g. risks, severity, role, achievement). Frequently occurs with 'try to' or 'tend to'. Commonly used in media, corporate, and political contexts where public perception is managed. Do not confuse with 'deny' (claim something is untrue) or 'ignore' (not address at all).