put it mildly

Idioms  

1. Understate, say without exaggeration, as in It's a fairly long way to walk, to put it mildly—twenty miles or so. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

"It was terrifying, to put it mildly," says the group's head Iryna Didur.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

However, in the much-discussed third season reunion, and many of the episodes leading up to it, it became clear that their relationship, whatever its status, is troubled, to put it mildly.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Boy Throb lacks the obvious singing talent or physical coordination of the Backstreet Boys, One Direction or BTS, to put it mildly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

Neither of those were great times to be buying stocks, to put it mildly.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

Billington was not among the company of saints, to put it mildly; within six months of arrival he became the first European in America to be tried for sassing the police.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann