step into the breach

step into the breach
To perform an action or job or fill a role or position of another person who is not willing or able to do it.
Hailey just called from the hospital, and she's not going to be able to make it tonight, so you're going to have to step into the breach and play Juliet.
We should give substitute teachers credit for stepping into the breach every day.
See also: breach, step
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
step into the breach
If you step into the breach, you do something that someone else would usually do but is unable to do. When Richard had to go abroad on business Tim Waites usually stepped into the breach and kept Emerald company. Ted Enloe and Benjamin Rosen will step into the breach until a replacement for Pfeiffer is found.
See also: breach, step
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
step into the breach take the place of someone who is suddenly unable to do a job or task.
In military terms a breach is a gap in fortifications made by enemy guns or explosives. In this context, to stand in the breach is to bear the brunt of an attack when other defences or expedients have failed.
See also: breach, step
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
step into the ;breach do somebody’s job or work when they are suddenly or unexpectedly unable to do it: The cook at the hotel fell ill, so the manager’s wife stepped into the breach.
This comes from the military. A breach was a hole that had been made in the walls that defended you from your enemies. If you stepped into the breach you stood in front of the hole and tried to stop people from entering.
See also: breach, step
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
See also:
piece of crumpet
fill (one's) shoes
fill shoes
fill someone's shoes
see (one) for what (one) (really) is
see somebody/something for what they are/it is
eat (one's) fill
eat fill
fill the gap
fill