Released pent-up emotions, then forgave silly mates (3,3,5)
I believe the answer is:
let off steam
'released pent-up emotions then forgave silly mates' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.
'released pent-up emotions then forgave silly mates' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'released' could be 'letoff' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'letoff' is present in the answer.
an anagram of 'mates' is 'steam' which is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for let off steam that I've seen before include "Vent one's anger" , "Give vent to one's emotions" , "wanting to relax the pressure" , "Whistle, perhaps" , "release pent-up energy" .)