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Meaning & use

staking your claim

phrase·Advancedfigurative

Last updated

UK/ˌsteɪkɪŋ jɔː ˈkleɪm/
US/ˌsteɪkɪŋ jʊr ˈkleɪm/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiomfigurative

    Clearly showing that you want something or believe it belongs to you, often before others do.

    Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; the possessive changes: staking his claim, staking her claim, staking their claim.

    Patterns

    • stake your claim to something
    • stake your claim on something
    • be staking your claim

    She arrived early to stake her claim to the best seat.

    By publishing first, the team staked their claim to the discovery.

    He is staking his claim as the next leader of the party.

  2. phraseidiomold-fashioned

    In history, marking land with wooden stakes to show that it is yours.

    Grammar: This is the original, literal use; it is less common today.

    Patterns

    • stake a claim to land
    • stake out a claim

    The settlers staked their claim to the land by driving posts into the ground.

    Miners staked their claims along the river during the gold rush.

    He staked his claim before anyone else arrived in the valley.

Common combinations

stake a claim to something
Several countries staked a claim to the region.
stake a claim on something
She staked a claim on the empty desk by leaving her bag there.
stake your claim early
In this market, you need to stake your claim early.
stake out a claim
The company staked out a claim in the new technology.

Synonyms and how they differ

assert your right
More formal and focuses on rights rather than wanting or deserving.
lay claim to
Very close in meaning, but often used for things you say are legally yours.
claim
The simple verb is more direct; the idiom adds the idea of doing it before others.

Opposites

give uprelinquish

Word family

stake noun
A strong wooden or metal post put in the ground.
stake verb
To risk money or support something.
claim noun
A statement that something is true or belongs to you.

Commonly confused: staking your claim or stake out?

staking your claim vs stake out

To stake out a place is to watch it secretly, often by police; staking your claim is about showing ownership or desire.

Practice

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