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.
"This work helps bridge the gap between laboratory experiments and real geological systems," Professor Iglauer said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
Playing tough guys early in his career, Hunnam says, was his way of trying to bridge the gap between him and his father, to prove he could be like him, even if only in fiction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Tan, who said alleged possessions are often accompanied by symptoms of psychosis, insisted Philippine psychiatrists were not seeking to "compete with the Catholic Church", but rather to bridge the gap between culture and science.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
But he started seven shots back and was unable to quite bridge the gap despite shooting a three-under 67, on a day when 17 players broke 70.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
She looked to Grace’s father again, someone to help her bridge the gap between words.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
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.
