“The gap between the haves and the have-nots just keeps getting wider and wider.”

English Lesson: The gap between the haves and the have-nots just keeps getting wider and wider.

You're discussing politics and economics with a friend. You share your opinion that poor people are getting poorer while rich people are getting richer across the world.

The gap between the haves and the have-nots just keeps getting wider and wider.

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the gap between (something) and (something)

A "gap" is the space between two things. For example, some people have "gaps" between their teeth.

You can also use the word "gap" to talk about numbers or experiences that are very different from each other.

The pay gap between men and women is getting smaller, but it's still a serious issue.

There's a huge gap between how I grew up as the son of a poor farmer and how most of my classmates were raised.

Usually when someone talks about the "gap between" things it suggests that those things should be closer. For example, you can talk about the "gap" between:

  • men and women
  • politicians and citizens
  • your financial reality and your wishes
  • how much executives are paid in a company vs. regular employees

haves and have nots

The phrase "haves and have-nots" basically refers to rich people ("haves") and poor people ("have-nots").

In life, there are haves and there are have nots. That's just the way it is.

"Haves and have-nots" sounds even more basic than "rich and poor". Even in a society without any money, there can be "haves" - people who have land, food, etc. - and "have nots".

(something) just keeps getting (more)

The phrase "___ just keeps getting ___" describes something that continues to change in the same direction. For example:

It just keeps getting hotter every year.

The original was amazing, but the sequels just keep getting worse and worse.