gap

slang For a Catholic wedding, the period of time between the end of the wedding ceremony at the church and the start of the reception at another location. This typically happens with an early afternoon wedding and an evening reception. Ugh, what are we going to do during the Catholic gap? We should at least go and get drinks somewhere.

The discrepancy between the lofty promises that a person makes and the resulting action or situation. The politician suffered a credibility gap regarding his claims about the economy's improvement because his constituents were still unable to find work.

To assist on a temporary basis. Aunt Helen is coming over to stay with us and fill the gap until Mom gets home from work.

A phrase that can be applied to any socioeconomic difference that exists between men and women. I really hope Maureen's big raise helps to lessen the gender gap in wages at this company.

The difference of opinions and attitudes, especially in relation to social changes and politics, that develop as each generation changes from the one before it. Attitudes toward gay marriage reflects a clear generation gap on the issue today.

An audio or visual instruction used in the UK and Ireland to be careful stepping over the space between a train's carriage and the platform when boarding or disembarking. Primarily heard in UK, Ireland. Your train is now arriving. Please mind the gap.

To assume a position of active, resolute defense (for or against something). From Ezekiel 22:30: "And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none." We are all called to stand in the gap to defend what we know in our hearts to be morally correct and essential.

To temporarily cover or fill in a deficiency or need. We need you to work the next two weeks with the marketing department. It's just to stop a gap until Meredith's replacement is ready to start. I know you want more than an apple, but it's just to stop a gap until we come to the next rest area.

The space visible between one's inner thighs when one stands with knees touching or almost touching. Because thinness contributes to a thigh gap, this concept is often regarded or criticized as a beauty ideal. I worry that the media is encouraging young girls to see a thigh gap as beautiful and necessary.

to serve temporarily. I think that the temp will fill the gap until a new person can be hired.

Distrust of a public statement or position, as in The current credibility gap at City Hall is the result of miscommunication between the mayor's office and the press . This term originated about 1960 in connection with the American public's disinclination to believe government statements about the Vietnam War. It soon was extended to individuals and corporations as well as government agencies to express a lack of confidence in the truth of their statements, or perception of a discrepancy between words and actions.

A broad difference between men and women, as in There is still an enormous gender gap in the wages of unskilled labor. This expression at first referred to the difference between men and women in voting preferences. It has since been extended to other areas. [1970s]

A broad difference in values and attitudes between one generation and another, especially between parents and their children. For example, There's a real generation gap in their choice of music, restaurants, clothing-you name it . [1960s"

Lack of belief in a statement or policy. This phrase came into being in 1965 during the Vietnam War, when the American public became aware of differences between what the government said and what actually happened. After the war it was extended to discrepancies between the words and actions of both individuals and corporations. Some believe this term was spawned by the missile gap invoked during the 1960 presidential campaign, when John F. Kennedy charged that U.S. missile production was lagging behind the Soviet Union’s. Soon after the election the charge was dismissed as false. Since then, according to William Safire, “missile gap” has been used to mean exaggerated and misleading claims.