Ethical reader awkwardly defused tension (7,3,3)
I believe the answer is:
cleared the air
'defused tension' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'ethical reader awkwardly' is the wordplay.
'awkwardly' is an anagram indicator.
'ethical'+'reader'='ethicalreader'
'ethicalreader' anagrammed gives 'CLEARED THE AIR'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cleared the air that I've seen before include "Dispelled differences or negative emotions" , "Removed elements of hostility, tension etc" .)