stopgap
Bridge until better
A stopgap is a temporary solution or substitute, used until something better or more permanent can be arranged.
The term suggests improvisation under pressure: The tarp was a stopgap until we could repair the roof.
As an adjective, it modifies makeshift arrangements: stopgap measures, stopgap funding.
Temporarily fixed with scraps
- cobbledSurfaced with rounded stones
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- bodgedHastily, shoddily repaired
- thrown-togetherAssembled hastily, without care
kludge · rough-and-ready · patchwork · slapdash · crude · tinkered · rigged · duct-tape
Adhesive strip for cuts
- patchMaterial covering damage
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
- fillerSubstance closing gaps
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
Connecting separated things
- transitionalConnecting two phases
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- short-termOf limited duration
temporary · interregnum · interlude · in-between · intermediary · stopover · pending · meanwhile
Temporary human placeholder
- placeholderTemporary position marker
- fill-inTemporary substitute person
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- surrogateOne acting for another
reserve · backup · understudy · locum · caretaker · acting · pinch-hitter · temp
jury-rigged
Temporarily fixed with scraps
- cobbledSurfaced with rounded stones
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- bodgedHastily, shoddily repaired
thrown-together · kludge · rough-and-ready · patchwork · slapdash · crude · tinkered · rigged · duct-tape · hack
band-aid
Adhesive strip for cuts
- patchMaterial covering damage
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
- fillerSubstance closing gaps
bridging
Connecting separated things
- transitionalConnecting two phases
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
short-term · temporary · interregnum · interlude · in-between · intermediary · stopover · pending · meanwhile
stand-in
Temporary human placeholder
- placeholderTemporary position marker
- fill-inTemporary substitute person
- replacementWhat takes another's place
surrogate · reserve · backup · understudy · locum · caretaker · acting · pinch-hitter · temp · relief
- substitutessubstitute, subs, replacement, substitutes, stand-in
- temporarytemporary, temp job, interim, temp worker, provisional
- temporary rolestemp, temp worker, internship, substitute, interim
- improviseimprovise, make do, wing it, ad-lib, jury-rig
- Quick Fixesduct tape fix, band-aid, superglue, duct tape, safety pin
- temporary supportbridge loan, emergency aid, short-term loan, relief fund, disaster relief