1. A shorthand acknowledgment that the speaker is aware of the preceding statement in a conversation, and has discerned the meaning of the statement.
Usually, this is an emotionally neutral phrase.
Usually used in writing, such as email, and may be followed by a period ("Understood.") depending on personal preference.
Synonym of Noted, and is normally acceptable in Business English. A more formal equivalent of gotcha, which is normally not acceptable in Business English. Compare: affirmative, correct, OK, right.
2. A disingenuous acknowledgment of a preceding statement in a conversation. This secondary definition usually occurs when the speaker is obligated to reply to a statement contrary to the desires or expectations of the speaker, but would be reprimanded for an explicitly negative or contrary reply.
In short, a common way to implicitly disapprove of a statement by neither explicitly permitting it nor praising it.
This secondary definition is highly dependent on plausible deniability, and may be misunderstood by the recipient.
If the implication is understood, the recipient may take offense, as it displays disobedience on the part of the speaker.
1. "We need five shipments delivered by this time tomorrow."
"Understood."
2. "Due to recent corporate restructuring, you will now be solely responsible for managing incoming tickets. Therefore, we must ask you to be on call 24/7."
"Understood."
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The state of being neither overrated nor underrated, but still noteworthy.
A: "I think that Chicago is seriously underrated."
B: I don't think it's either overrated or underrated, just rated.
A: "I think that the rural MidWest is seriously underrated."
B: I think it would have to be rated at all in order to be underrated.
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