MrPernickety  +  705592 Tue, 28 Apr 09 12:29 PM Hi, guys   I have a sneaking suspicion, I heard this expression: to tell the least I was wondering if I can use it in the following context:   A: What do you think of the store clerk? B: I think he is an obnoxious, arrogant, self-centered SOB, to tell the least   Thanks ! MrPernickety Joined on Sat, Oct 25 2008 Regular Member 686 Amendment XXX to the US Constitution: No man shall be held accountable for any promise he makes while drunk unless it was a bet. Context

	Mister Micawber  +  705654 Tue, 28 Apr 09 03:08 PM . The expression is 'to say the least', and your example does not demonstrate an understanding of its use. A:  What do you think of the clerk? B:  Well, I'm not sure, but he's not very polite, to say the least. . Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,501 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

	MrPernickety  +  705656 Tue, 28 Apr 09 03:11 PM Thank you, MM ! MrPernickety

	Yankee  +  705662 Tue, 28 Apr 09 03:27 PM Hi Alex I agree with MM. MrPernickety “B: I think he is an obnoxious, arrogant, self-centered SOB, to tell say the least” I would only add that if you did use that sentence, that would mean that the adjectives you used to describe him are "mild" in comparison to other adjectives that could be accurately used to describe him even more negatively. And I suspect you'd have some trouble topping the negative adjectives you've already used. Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,406 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Negatives, Adjectives, Sentences