bridge the gap
Americanidiom
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to create a connection between things that are separated either physically or metaphorically.
The mentorship program helps bridge the gap between middle school and high school.
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to fill in a gap or lack, as of time, money, understanding, or opportunity.
Student loans allow many to bridge the gap and be able to afford a college education.
Etymology
Origin of bridge the gap
First recorded in 1855–60, in the literal sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Recent budget pressures mean more people rely on pawn loans to bridge the gap between paychecks, according to Jory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
It said taxpayers should fund some of the infrastructure needed for black spots, "as commercial rollout alone cannot bridge the gap on the rail network".
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
Human stem cell-derived organoids can more closely reproduce human biology, helping bridge the gap between animal experiments and real patient outcomes.
From Science Daily ● May 29, 2026
The Federal Reserve Board named Jerome Powell chair pro tempore Friday as his term as chair formally expired, a move intended to bridge the gap until his confirmed successor is sworn in.
From Barron's ● May 15, 2026
For she remembered his words: the energy that links body and daemon is immensely powerful; and to bridge the gap between worlds needed a phenomenal burst of energy.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
