bridge the gap

[brij thuh gap]

idiom

1. 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.

2. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bridge the gap¹

First recorded in 1855–60, in the literal sense

Example Sentences

Nothing could bridge the gap - and the talks teetered on the verge of collapse.

Read more on BBC

Motivated by this goal, the team examined whether collecting light from both directions at the same time could bridge the gap and reveal activity across a broad range of sizes and motions in a single image.

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“Millions of families are worried right now about how they’ll put food on the table. Fighting hunger is core to our mission at DoorDash, and we’re stepping up alongside leading grocers and retailers to help bridge the gap. We know this is a stopgap, not a solution. But doing nothing simply isn’t an option.”

Read more on Salon

In the meantime, we’re doing everything we can to bridge the gap with other sources of fuel.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The majority of its revenue has come from search, and it is trying to bridge the gap to the world of generative AI.

Read more on Barron's