Their actions leave open the further question: when does out-and-out prevarication shade off into self-deception and denial?

他们的行动揭开了深层的问题：不折不扣的搪塞什么时候掩盖了自我欺骗和自我否认？

youdao

I've commenced on a new policy of rising at dawn to get as far as possible before the day heats up, then resting in the shade until setting off again during the evening.

我开始采用新的办法，每天黎明时起身，在天气热起来之前尽量赶路，然后躲在阴凉处休息，直到傍晚时再出发。

youdao

When Old Chuan still hesitated, the man in black snatched his lantern and tore off its paper shade to wrap up the roll.

老栓还踌躇着；黑的人便抢过灯笼，一把扯下纸罩，裹了馒头，塞与老栓；一手抓过洋钱，捏一捏，转身去了。

youdao

That will be at the expense of Kevin Maggs who did his usual hard-working stock-in-trade stuff, but looked a shade off the pace.

BBC: SPORT | Rugby Union | Six Nations | Decision time for O'Sullivan

This describes patients who are a shade better off than those in a vegetative state, because they show fluctuating signs of awareness.

ECONOMIST: Diagnosing comas

He had taken his helmet off and had sought shade, but had food and water with him.

CNN: French motorcyclist killed on Dakar Rally