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Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the appropriate word to complete the idiomatic expression.

Answer:After months of failing to resolve their internal conflict, the board members decided to call in an independent auditor to help them clear the 【air】.

Answer

The word 'air' completes the idiomatic expression 'clear the air', which means to remove tension, misunderstandings, or doubts between people.
The idiom 'clear the air' means to discuss feelings or resolve misunderstandings openly so that a tense situation improves. In this sentence context, bringing in an external mediator aims to resolve the underlying friction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context
The context describes board members seeking to resolve lingering internal conflict and misunderstandings.
An independent auditor is brought in specifically to facilitate open discussion and eliminate tension.
2
Identify the correct idiomatic term
The standard English idiom for eliminating tense feelings or resolving unspoken grievances is to 'clear the air'.
'Air' is the fixed word in this established idiomatic structure.

Key Concept

Contextual Completion of Fixed Idiomatic Expressions
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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