clear the air Definition

air
noun

1. The invisible odourless tasteless mixture of gases that forms the atmosphere surrounding the Earth, essential for the survival of all living organisms that depend on oxygen for respiration.
2. The space above and around the Earth, where birds and aircraft fly.

Thesaurus: heavens, sky.
3. Moving air; a light breeze; a draught.

Thesaurus: breeze, wind, blast, draught, waft, breath.
4. An appearance, look or manner.

Example: with a nonchalant air
Thesaurus: demeanour, manner, appearance, aura, bearing, character, impression, look, quality, style.
5. Behaviour intended to impress others, to show off, etc.

Example: put on airs
Example: airs and graces
Form: airs
6. A tune.

Thesaurus: melody, aria, song, tune, strain.affectation, pretensions, staginess, posing, artificiality, pomposity, snobbishness, haughtiness, superciliousness, arrogance, hauteur.
7a. Relating to air or the air;
7b. Relating to aircraft.

verb aired, airing

tr & intr
1a. To hang (laundry) in a warm dry place to make it completely dry or to remove unpleasant smells;
tr & intr
1b. Said of laundry: to be hung in a warm dry place for this purpose.
tr & intr
2a. To let fresh air into (a room, etc);
tr & intr
2b. Said of a room, etc: to become cooler or fresher in this way.
3. To warm (the sheets and blankets of a bed, especially one that has not been used recently).
4. To make (one's thoughts, opinions, etc) known publicly.

Thesaurus: give vent to, disclose, make public, reveal, divulge, make known, expose, broadcast, proclaim, tell, declare, voice.
5. old use
To make a show of or parade something.
(N Amer, especially US)
tr & intr
6. To broadcast something, or be broadcast, on radio or television.

Idiom: by air

In an aircraft.

Idiom: a change of air

A beneficial change from one's usual routine.

Idiom: clear the air

See under clear.

Idiom: in the air

Said of proposals, etc: undecided; not definitely going ahead.

Said of opinions, news, etc: being generally considered, thought or talked about.

Idiom: into thin air

Completely; mysteriously and leaving no trace.

Idiom: off the air

No longer or not yet being broadcast on radio or television.

Idiom: on the air

Being broadcast on radio or television.

Idiom: take the air (take to the air)

See under take.

Idiom: up in the air

Said of a person:
Thesaurus: undecided, unsettled, uncertain, unsure, unresolved, on tenterhooks, hanging fire.

Said of proposals, etc: undecided; not definitely going ahead. excited;

Said of proposals, etc: undecided; not definitely going ahead. angry.

Etymology: 13c: French, from Greek aer.

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clear
adj

1. Transparent; easy to see through.

Thesaurus: lucid, transparent, translucent, crystal clear; Antonym: opaque, dark, muddy.
2. Said of weather, etc: not misty or cloudy.
3. Said of the skin: healthy; unblemished by spots, etc.
4a. Easy to see, hear or understand;
4b. Lucid.
5. Bright; sharp; well-defined.

Example: a clear photograph
6. Said of vision: not obstructed.
7. Said of musical sounds: pure and accurate.
8. Certain; convinced; having no doubts or confusion

Example: Are you clear about that point?
9. Definite; free of doubt, ambiguity or confusion.

Thesaurus: explicit, precise, apparent, manifest, plain, patent; Antonym: fuzzy, ambiguous.
10. Capable of, or resulting from, accurate observation, logical thinking, etc.
11. Evident; obvious.
12. Free from obstruction.

Example: a clear path
Thesaurus: unobstructed, unhampered, unfettered, free, disentangled, divested.
13. Well away from something; out of range of or contact with it.

Example: well clear of the rocks
14. Free of it; no longer affected by it.
15. Remaining after all charges, taxes, expenses, etc have been paid.
16. Said of the conscience, etc: free from guilt, etc.
17. Entire; without interruption.

Example: need a clear week to finish
18. Free of appointments, etc.

adverb

1. In a clear manner.
2. Completely.

Example: get clear away
(N Amer)
3. All the way.

Example: see clear to the hills
4. Well away from something; out of the way of it.

Example: steer clear of trouble

verb cleared, clearing

tr & intr
1. To make or become clear, free of obstruction, etc.
2. To remove or move out of the way.
3. To prove or declare to be innocent or free from suspicion.

Thesaurus: acquit, discharge, exonerate, pardon, exculpate, get off the hook (slang).
4. To get over or past something without touching.

Example: clear the fence
5. To make as profit over expenses.

Thesaurus: profit, realize, net, make.
6. To pass inspection by (customs).
7. To give or get official permission for (a plan, etc).
8. To approve someone for a special assignment, access to secret information, etc.
tr & intr
9. Said of a cheque: to pass from one bank to another through a clearing-house.
10. To decode.
11. To pay a debt.
tr & intr
12. To give or receive clearance.

Example: The aeroplane was cleared for take-off

Derivative: clearness
noun

Idiom: clear as mud

See under mud.

Idiom: clear the air

colloq
To get rid of bad feeling, suspicion or tension, especially by frank discussion.

Idiom: clear the decks

See under deck¹.

Idiom: in the clear

No longer under suspicion, in difficulties, or in danger.
Thesaurus: guiltless, blameless, innocent; exonerated, absolved, exculpated, unencumbered, free, out of the woods.

Etymology: 13c: from French cler, from Latin clarus clear.

Phrasal Verb: clear something away

To remove it.

Phrasal Verb: clear off

To go away.

Phrasal Verb: clear something off

To finish paying debts, etc.

Phrasal Verb: clear out

To go away.

Phrasal Verb: clear something out

To rid it of rubbish, etc.

Phrasal Verb: clear up

Said of the weather: to brighten after rain, a storm, etc.To get better.
Example: Her acne cleared up quickly

Phrasal Verb: clear something up

To tidy up a mess, room, etc.To solve a mystery, etc.