make a leap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a leap" is a commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to mean to make a sudden or dramatic change or progress. For example: After months of hard work, the company was finally able to make a leap in profits.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I just decided to make a leap," she said.

The New York Times - Books

Tonight I had been asked to believe the unbelievable, to make a leap of faith.

The New York Times

Interior dialogue of man trying to make a leap of faith to believe in God.

The New Yorker

But every time Gatlin runs so quickly he asks everyone to make a leap of faith.

The Guardian - Sport

"They make a leap from saying if it's natural, it's morally and ethically desirable".

The New York Times - Arts

You just have to make a leap of faith, and jump.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Part of the contract between any play and its audience is our willingness to make a leap of imaginative faith.

The New York Times

Porter had never heard of it, but after learning more, he decided to make a leap of faith and attend.

The New York Times - Sports

With such personal souvenirs, do you worry about the provenance, or do you have to make a leap of faith?

The New York Times

We have to make a leap of empathy and imagination, unaided by gore, individual tales of heroism or tearjerking sentiment.

The Guardian

"It was very hard to make a leap to charge people with rape when the principal person in the trial didn't remember so many things," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make a leap" when you want to emphasize a significant, sudden, and often positive change or advancement. It's particularly effective when describing progress in business, technology, or personal development.

Common error

Don't use "make a leap" to describe incremental or slowly evolving changes. This phrase implies a substantial and noticeable difference, not a minor adjustment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a leap" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating an action of significant advancement or sudden change. Ludwig examples confirm its use in contexts involving progress, risk-taking, and transformative actions. It is often followed by "of faith", indicating an act of believing without evidence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make a leap" is a very common verb phrase used to describe a significant advancement or a bold move forward. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. While alternatives like "take a jump" or "advance significantly" exist, "make a leap" effectively conveys a sense of sudden and substantial progress. When using this phrase, remember that it's most appropriate for describing transformative changes, not gradual adjustments. Common errors include using it for incremental progress rather than significant advancements. Major authoritative sources use it consistently.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a jump

Uses "jump" instead of "leap", suggesting a slightly less ambitious or significant advancement.

advance significantly

Replaces the metaphorical "leap" with a more literal description of significant advancement.

make a breakthrough

Implies a sudden discovery or achievement that leads to progress.

progress rapidly

Focuses on the speed of the advancement, rather than the magnitude of the change.

move forward decisively

Emphasizes the determination and clarity of direction in making progress.

take a plunge

Suggests a riskier or more uncertain venture into something new.

make headway

Indicates gradual progress, often in the face of obstacles.

shoot ahead

Implies rapid and prominent advancement, often in a competitive context.

gain ground

Suggests incremental progress, often in comparison to others.

escalate quickly

Highlights the speed and intensity of the increase or progress.

FAQs

How can I use "make a leap" in a sentence?

You can use "make a leap" to describe significant progress or a bold move forward. For example, "The company decided to make a leap into a new market" or "She had to make a leap of faith to start her own business".

What does it mean to "make a leap of faith"?

To "make a leap of faith" means to take a risk or believe in something without concrete evidence. It involves trusting your intuition or having confidence in a positive outcome despite uncertainty.

What can I say instead of "make a leap"?

You can use alternatives like "take a jump", "advance significantly", or "make a breakthrough" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "make a leap" instead of "make progress"?

"Make a leap" is suitable when referring to a substantial and noticeable advancement, implying a significant change from the previous state. "Make progress" is more general and can refer to gradual improvements without a specific emphasis on magnitude.