ante (redirected from raises the ante)

penny ante (American)

of little value or importance. He was proposing some penny ante increase in child-care that amounted to an extra ten dollars a week. We were burgled but they didn't take much - just penny ante stuff in the front office.

See also: penny

raise/up the ante

to increase your demands or to increase the risks in a situation, in order to achieve a better result. The government has upped the ante by refusing to negotiate until a ceasefire has been agreed.

See also: raise

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ante up something

to give money or something of value. She refused to ante up the personal and financial information that she was asked to provide. Every member of the team anted up $50 to pay for equipment.

up the ante

1. to raise the cost or risk of an activity. By adding new inspectors, the customs service is upping the ante for smugglers.

2. to increase the quality of something. Foxx says he intends to up the ante in nightclub entertainment by introducing new, extremely talented performers.

raise the stakes

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of up the ante (= to increase the amount of money each person must risk in a card game or other activity involving the risk of losing money)