Vocabulary
控えめに言う
ひかえめにいう
to speak with restraint; to understate; to downplay; to put it mildly; to say the least
expression
verb
Example sentences
彼（かれ）は控（ひか）え目（め）に言（い）っても倹約家（けんやくか）だ。
He is frugal, to say the least of it.
控（ひか）え目（め）に言（い）っても彼（かれ）は関心事（かんしんじ）が多（おお）すぎる。
He has too many interests, to put it mildly.
控（ひか）え目（め）に言（い）ってもこれは良（よ）くない。
It is not good, to say the least.
控（ひか）え目（め）に言（い）ってもそれはすばらしいディナーだ。
It was a good dinner, to say the least.
控（ひか）え目（め）に言（い）っても、彼（かれ）はよい学生（がくせい）ではない。
He is not a good student, to say the least.
控（ひか）え目（め）にいっても素晴（すば）らしいディナーだった。
It was a good dinner, to say the least.
君（きみ）の彼（かれ）に対（たい）する評価（ひょうか）は、ひかえ目（め）に言（い）っても、少（すこ）し高（たか）いよ。
Your estimation of him is a little high, to say the least.
それは控（ひか）え目（め）に言（い）ってるんだよ。
That's putting it mildly.