Citations:gap of danger

Literal, place which is hardest to defend

• 1757 George Washington, letter to John Robinson, 17 October 1757 Letters, Vol.II (1834) p.267:

  The inhabitants see, and are convinced of this, which makes each family afraid of standing in the gap of danger ; and by retreating, one behind another, they depopulate the country, and leave it to the enemy

• 1905 Lady Isabella Augusta Gregory, Of Gods and Fighting Men, "Chapter II: The sons of Tuireann":

  It was a gap of danger and a breaking of ranks was before Brian in every path he took, till he came to the King of Ioruaidh in the battle pen where he was.

• 1907 Gilbert Parker The Weavers "Chapter XLI: In the land of Shinar" :

  David left the city and galloped away to send forces to stop the gap of danger before it was filled by the foe

• 1948 Paul Walsh, translation of Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh, Beatha Aodha Ruaidh Uí Dhomhnaill "section 5: The Fourth Year, 1595" ¶39:

  That was not easy for him, for the English had brought the whole province of Connacht under their power, so that they were in possession of the impregnable forts and strongholds of the country and in the gaps of danger, viz., some of them in the castle on the bank of the ancient river which the flood left behind, called the Sligeach, and others of them in Ballymote, a strong fortress in the neighbourhood of the celebrated hill of Kesh of Corann the harper.

• 2002 Seamus Heaney, translation of Beowulf, line 1375:

  The gap of danger where the demon waits is still unknown to you.

Figurative, requiring bravery

• 1796 Sporting Magazine, June 1796, "New Jockey Club, No.III" p.121:

  [...] he threw himself in the gap of danger, and, nobly maintaining his post; combated the direful prejudices as they successively arose, and, in despite of the accumulating horrors of the hour, said, like the Omnipotent unto the tide of ruin, " thus far thou shalt go, but no farther."