clear the air en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To assuage a hostile or uncomfortable situation.
After much bitter in-fighting over the issue of the BF and other issues, I felt it was time to clear the air rather than deal in back-biting.
1976 August 7, Kathy Guilmette, “Devil's Advocate”, in Gay Community News, page 4:This relationship began when you went to the Father and cleared the air by asking Him to forgive your past mistakes and sins.
2014, David Judson, Are You Attackable?: Embracing God During the Battles In Life:Good table manners?Yep. He cleared the air by expressing his nervousness about using chopsticks.
2023 December 23, “Blind date: ‘He said he’d like to marry me’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| clears the air | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| cleared the air | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| cleared the air | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| clearing the air | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Relateds
pour oil on troubled waters · dust settles
Translations (12)
es aclarar las cosas (to assuage a hostile situation) · pl oczyścić atmosferę (to assuage a hostile situation) · fi puhdistaa ilmaa (to assuage a hostile situation) · es templar gaitas (to assuage a hostile situation) · fr crever l'abcès (to assuage a hostile situation) · fr mettre les choses au clair (to assuage a hostile situation) · pl oczyszczać atmosferę (to assuage a hostile situation) · fi puhdistaa ilmapiiriä (to assuage a hostile situation) · ru разряди́ть атмосфе́ру (to assuage a hostile situation) · sv rensa luften (to assuage a hostile situation) · es apaciguar los ánimos (to assuage a hostile situation) · fr détendre l'atmosphère (to assuage a hostile situation)