gap, noun

colloquial
In the verbal phrase to take the gap.
a. To seize an opening or opportunity, either literally (e.g. while driving or running) or figuratively.
2010 writingstudio.co.za (DSAE Corpus)Organised crime took the gap and expanded.
2013 www.samen.co.za.co.za (DSAE Corpus)The action was at front for the second 15-lap heat when the moment became too big for Baard and he took the gap to get past Chapman, who spun his car on the opening lap feeling the pressure of having to chase after the GT-R.
2016 timeslive.co.za (DSAE Corpus)[W]eaknesses in human resources policies and practices down the line of administration in a province offer ample opportunity for unscrupulous officials to take the gap, so to speak.
b. To escape or flee, sometimes used in the context of emigration.
2013 internationalflyerz.co.za (DSAE Corpus)I have a whole slew of engineering friends who took the gap and are now in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US or just about anywhere else.
2014 dfa.gov.za (DSAE Corpus)Marifos took a couple of steps to the side opening an escape route for them while lifting an arm to block another ewe from trying to take the gap.
To seize an opening or opportunity, either literally (e.g. while driving or running) or figuratively.
To escape or flee, sometimes used in the context of emigration.
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