PhrasesHub

Can't be overestimated

    Definitions

      • emphasize importance
        To highlight the significance or impact of something, often implying that it is greater than initially perceived or acknowledged.

      • downplay importance
        To diminish the significance or impact of something, often implying that it is less than initially perceived or acknowledged.

    Examples of Can't be overestimated


      Conclusion

      The idiom "can't be overestimated/can't be underestimated" has two contrasting meanings. On one hand, it can be used to stress the importance or value of something, while on the other hand, it can be used to diminish its significance or impact. This can lead to confusion or misinterpretation if not used carefully.

      In both cases, the idiom conveys the idea that the true extent or value of something cannot be accurately measured or determined. It suggests that the given subject is beyond estimation or underestimation, and therefore should not be underestimated or overestimated.

      Origin of "Can't be overestimated"

      The origin of this idiom is not clear, but it may have stemmed from the use of the words "over" and "under" as prefixes to indicate excess or deficiency. The word "estimate" also has roots in the Latin word "aestimare," meaning to value or appraise. Therefore, the idiom could have originated as a way to express that something is either of great or little value, and cannot be accurately measured.

      Another theory suggests that the idiom may have evolved from the phrase "you can't overestimate the importance of X," which was commonly used in the early 20th century. This phrase was eventually shortened to the more concise "can't be overestimated/can't be underestimated."

      In conclusion, the idiom "can't be overestimated/can't be underestimated" has two opposite meanings, but both convey the idea that something is beyond estimation or underestimation. Its origin is not certain, but it likely originated from the use of the words "over" and "under" as prefixes to indicate excess or deficiency, and the word "estimate" as a means of measuring value.