We consider the proximity effect between high‐temperature superconducting cuprates and ordinary metals in the context of superconductor‐normal‐superconductor (S‐N‐S) microbridges. The theory of the proximity effect for conventional superconductors predicts that superconductivity can only be weakly induced by the coupling of the cuprates with metals such as gold or silver. Experimental investigations of this system have yielded results consistent with this prediction. We discuss the possibility of fabricating S‐N‐S microbridges with desirable properties by using more appropriate normal layers in the devices.