clear the air

clear the air (third-person singular simple present clears the air, present participle clearing the air, simple past and past participle cleared the air)

1. To assuage a hostile or uncomfortable situation.

   Antonym: add fuel to the fire

   • 2014, David Judson, Are You Attackable?: Embracing God During the Battles In Life:

     This relationship began when you went to the Father and cleared the air by asking Him to forgive your past mistakes and sins.

   • 2023 December 23, “Blind date: ‘He said he’d like to marry me’”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     Good table manners?
     Yep. He cleared the air by expressing his nervousness about using chopsticks.

• dust settles
• pour oil on troubled waters