low key

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

comparative more low key · superlative most low key

1. alternativecolloquialAlternative spelling of low-key.

   “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.

   2019 February 5, Maria Yagoda, “Why Do So Many Adult Men Keep Their Mattresses On The Floor?”, in Vice

   1 more example

   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.

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