underreckon
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To estimate or calculate at a lower value than the actual or true amount: "underreckon" means to underestimate or to compute something as being less than it really is.
- To count or assess insufficiently: It involves failing to include all elements or giving a lower tally than warranted.
Usage Examples
- (The accountant calculated the expenses as lower than they actually were.)
- (They underestimated the necessary time.)
- (The survey counted fewer people than actually lived there.)
Advanced Usage
"to underreckon one's abilities": to have a lower opinion of one's own skills than is accurate.
- She often underreckons her talents, despite her many achievements. (She underestimates her own capabilities.)
"to underreckon the cost": to calculate a price or expense as less than the real figure.
- The contractor underreckoned the cost of materials, causing a loss. (The contractor miscalculated the materials cost too low.)
Variants and Related Words
Underreckoning (noun): the act or result of estimating too low.
- The underreckoning of the damage led to insufficient insurance coverage. (The low estimate of harm was incorrect.)
Underreckoned (adjective): having been estimated or counted as less than actual.
- The underreckoned figures were later corrected. (The numbers that were too low were revised.)
Synonyms
- Underestimate: to judge something as smaller or less important than it is.
- Undervalue: to set a price or worth lower than the true value.
- Miscalculate: to make an error in calculation, often resulting in a lower number.
Related Idioms
Sell short: to underestimate the true value or potential of someone or something.
- Don't sell yourself short; you have more skill than you underreckon. (Do not undervalue yourself.)
Lowball: to deliberately give a low estimate or offer.
- They lowballed the proposal, underreckoning the actual expenses. (They offered an unrealistically low figure.)