单选题 Publicly, they are trying to ______ this latest failure, but in private they are very worried.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】put off推迟；laugh off用笑摆脱；pay off还清债务；lay off下岗。此句句意是“在外人看来，他们尽量笑对这次失败，但私下里，他们还是闷闷不乐的。”所以选择B。