What does this idiom mean: "clear the air"

[Haggis]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #409 "Air Idioms", question 2

I honestly think the time has come to clear the air -- means: ..........

(a) to open the windows
(b) to look at things more carefully
(c) to get rid of the smoke
(d) to make things simpler

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #409 "Air Idioms", answer 2

I honestly think the time has come to clear the air -- means: to make things simpler.

Correct answer: (d) to make things simpler

Your answer was: incorrect
I honestly think the time has come to clear the air -- means: to open the windows.
_________________________

why is it the answer to this is to make things simpler? can u explain it to me?

Haggis

[Conchita]

In the test sentence, the phrase 'clear the air' is used as an idiom, which is a particularly colloquial expression where the words don't have their literal meaning.

Here you can find both the literal and idiomatic (or figurative) meaning of the phrase:

clear the air