控ひかえめに言いう

expression, godan verb (-u)

to put it mildly; to understate; to speak with restraint

Used when deliberately softening a statement, often to avoid sounding extreme or rude. Frequently appears as 控えめに言っても (even if I put it mildly) to introduce a strong opinion.

• 彼かれの態たい度どは、控ひかえめに言いっても失しつ礼れいだった。

  His attitude was, to put it mildly, rude.

• その計けい画かくは控ひかえめに言いって無む謀ぼうだ。

  That plan is, to say the least, reckless.