up the ante

== English == === Pronunciation === === Verb === up the ante (third-person singular simple present ups the ante, present participle upping the ante, simple past and past participle upped the ante) (poker) To raise the stakes of a hand of poker. Synonyms: raise the ante, raise the stakes (idiomatic) Of a dispute, to take an action that raises the stakes, i.e. that increases the chances of conflict. (idiomatic) To render something more difficult. (idiomatic) To render something more desirable. Synonym: sweeten the pot ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === “up the ante”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.