slight problem

You usually put it at the start of a sentence. Use it to introduce bad news gently. You can say "We have a slight problem." Or try "There is a slight problem with the plan." It works perfectly with the word just. For example, "There is just a slight problem with my car."

Use it when you are at a restaurant and they forget your drink. Use it at work when a meeting needs to be moved. It is perfect for texting a friend when you are running late. It helps keep the mood light and professional. It shows you are in control of the situation.

Don't use it if the building is actually on fire. That would be too much understatement! Avoid it in very deep emotional crises where people need total honesty. If you use it for a massive mistake, people might think you are joking. Or they might think you don't realize how serious things are. Use it for things that can be solved with a bit of effort.

English speakers, especially in the UK and North America, love understatement. We often try to avoid sounding dramatic or overly emotional. Using slight problem is a way to maintain "stiff upper lip" or social harmony. It’s a linguistic cushion that softens the blow of bad news. It’s very common in office culture to keep things sounding manageable.

You might hear people say minor issue or small hitch. Some might say a bit of a problem to sound even more casual. In a professional setting, slight complication is a fancier version. If you want to be very informal, you could say a tiny snag. All of these keep the problem feeling small and solvable.