Reader's question: The methodologies for this study were odd to say the least.

Could you explain “to say the least”?

My comments:

"To say the least” implies that you could say more (and let out more criticism). In the above sentence, this is a diplomatic way of voicing your strong disapproval of the methodologies for the study.

Used to hide your stronger opinion, usually negative.

For example, when I asked a colleague what he thought of the work done by his new intern, he said: I’m not at all pleased, to say the least.

From that I infer the intern will perhaps have to look elsewhere for a job.

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In that vein

The devil you know…

Right out of the gate

Leap-frog

Up the ante

loose ends

Nose-bleed section

Off the rails

Keeping up with the Jones's

Benefits package

Closed-door talk

March Madness

On-again,off-again

Go to Zhang Xin's column

本文仅代表作者本人观点，与本网立场无关。欢迎大家讨论学术问题，尊重他人，禁止人身攻击和发布一切违反国家现行法律法规的内容。

Zhang Xin has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.