culpable	guilty
to tip the scales	to be the main convincing, decisive factor
token	a sign, symbol
manifestation	an instance of showing sth as valid
to fall short	not to reach sb's expectations
to subject to sth	to expose oneself to sth
by dint of	by means of
to do without	to manage without
to pass over	to disregard for promotion
to come off	to become detached/successful
to seek	to look for sth
to refute	to find sth unacceptable
to acclaim	to meet with enthusiastic approval
dissenting	opposing
to repudiate	not to accept
to clamour for	to make a loud demant
to clamour against	to protest
to reel off	to recite without taking a break
to come clean	to confess
backdrop	background