in a feeble attempt to silence jeers; just try to explain things away when ridiculed; manage some how to relieve oneself of embarrassment
❍ 他故作镇静，讲了一个笑话，～。He put on a composed air and told a joke in a feeble attempt to silence jeers.
聊以解嘲liáo yǐ jiě cháo
解：解除；嘲：嘲笑。姑且用言行来消除所受的嘲讽。manage somehow to relieve embarrassment, in a feeble attempt to silence jeers, say or do sth. in order to avoid mockery