low key

low key

1. A restrained or subdued situation.
2. (photography) A dark area of a photograph with little contrast.

• low-key
• low-keyed

low key (comparative more low key, superlative most low key)

1. (informal) Alternative spelling of low-key
   • 2019 February 5, Maria Yagoda, “Why Do So Many Adult Men Keep Their Mattresses On The Floor?”, in Vice‎:

     “When I started sleeping on the floor, I thought, ‘Whatever, it’s a mattress, I’ll be fine, I did it when I was a teen,’ but eventually, it actually became a real problem that was low key fucking my life,” Smith told me.

   • 2021 September 6, Zack Handlen, “Rick And Morty ends its fifth season looking for an escape hatch”, in AV Club‎:

     In terms of the overall story of the finale, it’s smart how much emphasis the episode puts on the juice in the portal gun, as that’s going to be a major factor in “Rickmurai Jack;” the portal gun is low key the most important invention in Rick’s arsenal, and the episode does a good job of underlining that without belaboring the point.