[Slang] UP THE ANTE. - Explore How to Express Taking Risks in English!

Increase stakes or risks.

To "up the ante" doesn't involve physically lifting anything. Instead, this gambling-derived expression means to increase the stakes or risks in a situation to achieve a greater payoff. Whether it's adding more money to the bet or putting more effort into a competition to win, upping the ante is about stepping up your game to gain a bigger reward.

Example Sentences

1. Let’s up the ante at this poker game.

   Increasing the stakes in a poker game.

2. We need to up the ante if we want to win this.

   Raising efforts to achieve victory.

3. The company decided to up the ante by doubling their investment in the new project.

   The company increasing their investment to gain a competitive edge.