Possible Clues:

• Like a fire at a fireman's house
• Flattening, perhaps, or the opposite
• So scornful as to be quite flattening, it seems
• Characterised by mildly sardonic wit
• Intended to be the opposite of being flattening, I see
• Seems like metal or means the opposite
• Strangely apt or inapt
• It's derisory to put press in charge
• It may be flattening in a metallic manner
• Paradoxical, contradictory