low-key

The low-key Russell was a striking contrast to the colorful and bombastic Lasorda, more Mr. Rogers than Bobby Knight.

For the home fighter, embracing his underdog status and staying low-key in the build-up facilitated a more relaxed, controlled performance.

The piano and the massive horse aside, Gibson says her home in the Vegas suburbs is “normal and low-key. I wake up every day to views of the mountains.”

The show’s music and lyrics are credited to Max Martin and friends — which sounds like a low-key cool table at the Grammy Awards.

His low-key quisling turn was entirely in character, and not nearly enough to explain the media’s collective sense of betrayal.