North's laughter bellowed out in response to the bitter joke.

The two of them laughed together in disbelief, sharing the bitter joke.

In the week since the safe haven plan was agreed in Washington, it has turned out to be a bitter joke.

It's a cruel and bitter joke but, when you think about it, neither flip nor irrelevant.

It's a bitter joke, but a joke all the same.

One made the bitter joke that this was a "second exodus from Egypt."

It was a joke, I tell you, a bitter joke.

Laughter came from his taut lips as though he were amused at a rather bitter joke.

Certainly the idea of using it to secure protection for the rose seemed more and more like a bitter joke.

There was a suggestion of sadness in her smile, as if we shared a bitter joke.