bridge the gap

Meaning

To reduce or eliminate the difference, distance, or misunderstanding between two groups, ideas, or situations. It is frequently used in business to describe connecting different departments, matching supply with demand, or aligning skills with job requirements.

Examples

• The new training program is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

  The new training program is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

• We need to find a way to bridge the gap between our marketing and sales teams.

  We need to find a way to bridge the gap between our marketing and sales teams.

• The company offered a signing bonus to bridge the gap in salary expectations.

  The company offered a signing bonus to bridge the gap in salary expectations.

• An experienced project manager can help bridge the gap during the transition period.

  An experienced project manager can help bridge the gap during the transition period.

• This new product features a simplified interface to bridge the gap for non-technical users.

  This new product features a simplified interface to bridge the gap for non-technical users.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to build a bridge of the gap.

  ✓ We need to bridge the gap.

  'Bridge' is used directly as a verb in this idiom; you do not need 'build a bridge of'.

• ✗ The training will bridge the space between the two teams.

  ✓ The training will bridge the gap between the two teams.

  The idiom is fixed as 'bridge the gap'. Replacing 'gap' with 'space' or 'distance' sounds unnatural.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The mentor worked closely with the intern to ___ in her technical knowledge.

  💡 Reduce the difference or lack of skills.

  Show answer

  bridge the gap

• Our goal is to ___ between what customers want and what we currently offer.

  💡 Connect two different things.

  Show answer

  bridge the gap