Meaning & use
up the stakes
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiom
To increase what can be won or lost, making a situation more serious or risky.
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; the object usually comes after 'stakes' or is understood.
Patterns
- up the stakes
- up the stakes in something
- up the stakes by doing something
The company upped the stakes by offering a huge bonus to the best salesperson.
When both players raised their bets, they upped the stakes and the game became tense.
The new law upped the stakes for anyone caught cheating on the exam.
phraseidiomfigurative
To make a contest or disagreement more intense and important.
Grammar: Often used in news or business talk about competition or conflict.
Patterns
- up the stakes in a competition
- up the stakes for someone
The two teams upped the stakes in the final minutes of the match.
Her speech upped the stakes in the debate about climate policy.
Common combinations
- up the stakes in
- The rivals upped the stakes in the race for the contract.
- up the stakes by
- He upped the stakes by promising to double the prize money.
- up the stakes for
- This decision upped the stakes for everyone involved.
Synonyms and how they differ
- raise the stakes
- The more common and slightly more formal version; 'up the stakes' is more informal.
- increase the risk
- Focuses on danger rather than on what is being won or lost.
Opposites
Commonly confused: up the stakes or up the ante?
up the stakes vs up the ante
Very similar, but 'ante' is the original amount each player puts in; 'stakes' is more general.
Practice
What does 'up the stakes' mean in this sentence: 'The manager upped the stakes by promising a bigger reward'?
Choose one answer.
The phrase means to increase what is at risk or can be gained, so option 1 fits. Option 0 is the opposite, option 2 removes the contest, and option 3 is also the opposite of increasing risk.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “up the stakes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.