A litotes (LIE-toe-teez) is an intentional double negative used as a rhetorical device to express a weak or otherwise qualified affirmative. An example would be "I wouldn't call his situation hopeless." That's not quite the same as saying "I would call his sitaution hopeful."

Bob Dylan penned a classic litotes in "Don't Think Twice" when he wrote, "I ain't saying you treated me unkind..."

Can any 'Catter out there come up with another litotes in folk or folk-like song lyrics?


--- Steve