clear the air

Idioms  

1. Eliminate confusion, dispel controversy or emotional tension, as in His letter has cleared the air; we now know where he stands. This idiom alludes to an atmosphere cleared of sultriness by a storm. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clear the air

Some Villa fans were unhappy with Tielemans' comments, so he took to Instagram, external to clear the air.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken to Trump to try to clear the air over his earlier criticism of the war, according to a German official.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

Overnight, smoke from the Santa Rosa Island and Sandy fires is expected to come onshore, settling over the coast with little wind to clear the air.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

Engelbert and Collier were supposed to have a meeting to clear the air.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025

In the bathroom, running the water to clear the air, in the bedroom, wheezy puffs out the open window?

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood