What does it mean to clear the air with someone?

[kkingxx]

Does it mean to repair a friendship or relationship?

[Summeroflove]

Usually to try and talk things out.

https://www.wordnik.com/words/clear%20the%20air

[Anonymous]

Get everything out in the open and not have anymore confusion or bullshit

[kkingxx]

Fix things?

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah

[OlderAndWiser]

It means to have a candid discussion about a topic which has previously not been discussed openly.

[kkingxx]

Fix the friendship?

[OlderAndWiser]

That would be the goal but that is not necessarly accomplished by having the conversation.

[kkingxx]

Really so I’m wasting my time?

[OlderAndWiser]

Not what I said. "Clearing the air" means finally have a dscussion about something which has not previously been discussed and the goal is to reolve the conflict and repair the relationshp, but that goal is not always accomplished.

[kkingxx]

Got it

Hopefully it will be ok

[Guy13]

It means that it is first step to rebuilding anything. Coming to a joint understanding and agreement is always step 1.

[kkingxx]

We had a fight
He said some things
I said things

I was asked if I would be willing to sit down to resolve

[Guy13]

Perfect, two adults are very rare to find. Make sure that you pull out the "never say again... can't take these words back" List. It is necessary to draw a line. YOu list yours and should list his.

[kkingxx]

I told him my grandfather was dying and then he was like i don’t need to know any of that stuff

[kkingxx]

Does it mean he cares?

[Guy13]

That would be a struggle for me. Empathy... ability to care for another outside of what I am getting may be an issue for him... AND You

[kkingxx]

That’s why I’m on the fence about going
I’m not sure if I can forget that

[Guy13]

It is not a good sign... this is for sure. One doesn't suddenly wake up and change in stuff like this.

[kkingxx]

What’s not a good sign?

Would you go?

[Lliam]

"Clear the air" - defuse or clarify an angry, tense, or confused situation by frank discussion.

It's like laying all the cards on the table; getting things off your chest; clarifying misunderstandings; expressing feelings.

[kkingxx]

Wants to fix things?

[Lliam]

Not sure about that. Maybe. Or he might want to get something off of his chest.

It's good that he wants to talk, though. It makes me think that he hopes to patch things up. I doubt if he would want to go through the stress of a deep conversation if he didn't care about you.

Practice active listening skills. Don't get defensive. Don't argue. Reflect back what you think he said in order to give him a chance to clarify and make sure there are no misunderstandings.

You don't have to agree with everything. The main thing is to understand what he is saying. He needs to know that he is being heard.

Wait for your turn to express your thoughts and feelings. Do so without being defensive, accusing or confrontational. Be honest and sincere. Hopefully, he will try to understand where you are coming from, too.

Even if you two are disagreeing, it's important to express the fact that you love each other and want what's best for each other.

I hope it goes well, kkingxx.

Hopefully,

[kkingxx]

I told him my grandad was dying and he snapped back saying he didn’t need to know any of that stuff

[Lliam]

Yeah, that was really unfealing. There must be a reason why he reacted that way. Maybe he's freaked out by death. Maybe he had some traumatic event in his life.

I hope he understands that his reaction was inappropriate and wants to explain what prompted it.

[kkingxx]

You would be really angry too I’m sure

Hopefully the friendship can be fixed

Hopefully it goes well

[Lliam]

Yeah. I would have been hurt, for sure. And sometimes I react to hurt with anger. But anger isn't constructive. It's better to try to understand what the hell your partner is thinking. You know he's not a bad person. So there had to be some underlying reason for his hurtful comment.

I'm wishing you the best of luck and hope everything works out. :-)

[BJP21]

Clear the air, burying the hatchet, Airing it out... means the same thing like many here have already said repair something.

[kkingxx]

Fixing the friendship?

[BJP21]

You got it.

[kkingxx]

Hopefully

I told him my grandad was dying and then he was like I don’t need to know any of that stuff

[kkingxx]

I’m really nervous about it

[ThatguyDon]

to be no holds truthful

[Jamie05rhs]

It means to get everything out in the open.

[Staximus]

It means to say what needs to be said

[Anonymous]

Have a one on one bull session.

[kkingxx]

I’m not sure I should go

I told him my grandad was dying and he said he doesn’t need to know that stuff