clear the air — talk out tension
expressionB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To talk openly about a problem so the bad feeling between people goes away.
Pattern: clear the air (with someone) (about something)
In use
- Can we sit down and clear the air? I don't want this hanging over us.after a disagreement
- A: Things have been weird since the argument.
B: I know — let's clear the air.two friends sorting things out
Common mistake
✗ Let's clean the air about this.
✓ Let's clear the air about this.
The fixed phrase is 'clear the air', not 'clean the air'.
Don't confuse it
'Clear the air' is the honest conversation; 'make up' is the result of being friends again.