cancelling a debt; forgiving a debt; being even
Colloquial term for wiping the slate clean financially, often used in phrases like チャラにする (to call it even).
I'll forget about the money I lent you the other day.
forgetting what was said or done; pretending something never happened
Colloquial extension: treating a past remark or incident as if it never happened, often in the phrase チャラにする.
Forget what I just said—pretend it never happened.
My friend forgave my debt and called it even.
You treated me, so we're even now.
Let's just forget about the fight.
Let's just forget about yesterday's argument.
We both apologized, so we're even now.
My savings and debt were the same amount, so it ended up even in the end.
チャラチャラ describes a flashy, frivolous manner or the jingling sound of things clinking, while チャラ means cancelling a debt or pretending something never happened.
Common katakana spelling for this colloquial term.
Hiragana spelling, also used.
The exact origin is uncertain. It may be related to the onomatopoeic sound of something being erased or wiped away, or possibly derived from a contraction of ちゃらんぽらん (irresponsible).