missile gap, n.All

A Missile gap (n.) was ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠manufactured to frighten a country and brand a rival soft, though the actual gap ran strongly the other way.