- To increase the level of risk, reward, importance, or pressure in a situation.
Explanation
Origin
- Comes from gambling, particularly poker.
- Stakes are the bets placed (money or chips).
- To raise the stakes means to increase the amount of the bet, making the potential win or loss greater and increasing the pressure on other players.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Make things real
- Put more skin in the game (Increase personal investment/risk)
- Go big or go home (Adopt a high-risk, high-reward strategy)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Shit just got real (Indicates a sudden increase in seriousness/danger)
- Put your balls on the line (Take a significant personal risk crude)
Milder/Formal:
- Increase the significance
- Elevate the level of commitment/risk
- Heighten the consequences
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to Formal.
- Commonly used in discussions about business competition, negotiations, politics, sports, and personal challenges.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Ensure the listener understands it refers to increasing risk/reward/importance, not literally lifting physical stakes out of the ground. The gambling origin helps clarify the meaning.
Examples
- The competition was already fierce, but their new product launch really raises the stakes.
- Refusing to compromise now only raises the stakes in the negotiation.
- He raised the stakes by betting his entire savings on the final hand.
Dialogue
Liam: Did you hear? The opposing team just signed that star player.
Chloe: No way! That really raises the stakes for the championship game.
Liam: Exactly. Winning just got a whole lot harder, but also more prestigious if we do.
Chloe: Our team needs to step up their game now.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Competitor just dropped their prices significantly. They've decided to raise the stakes! We need a response plan, stat. #business #competition #strategy
- News Headline Snippet: Diplomatic talks stall as both sides raise the stakes with new demands. #politics #internationalrelations
- Forum Post (Gaming): The latest game update raises the stakes with harder bosses but better loot drops! #gaming #challenge
Response Patterns
- Wow, that changes things.
- Are they sure that's wise?
- This is getting serious.
- What happens now?
- That definitely ups the pressure.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing the stakes have been raised:
- Discuss the potential consequences (positive or negative).
- Analyze the motivations behind raising the stakes.
- Consider how to respond to the increased pressure or risk.
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes a change in an existing situation.
Intonation
- Stress on raise and stakes.
- Often said with a tone indicating increased tension, seriousness, or excitement. RAISE the STAKES.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in all major English-speaking regions. Up the ante is also very common.