antes up
Stakes initial chips
Antes up is the third-person form of ante up, meaning to pay what's owed or contribute one's share.
From poker, where players must put chips in the pot before cards are dealt.
The phrase extends to any required contribution: Everyone antes up for the gift or The company finally antes up the promised bonus.
Commit resources for gain
- contributeGive to a collective
- pledgeBinding promise given
- put upErect or accommodate
- chip inAdd to a group fund
stake · risk · commit · pony up · cough up · shell out · front · advance
Risked stake on outcome
- stakeSharpened post or share
- potVessel for cooking
- chipsThin fried slices
- buy-inAgreement to participate
raise · call · kitty · pool · contribution · payout · odds · jackpot
Gap or start
- beginningInitial stage of something
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- kickoffOpening play in football
- entryAccess or submission
buy-in · first move · threshold · commencement · launch · join in · enter · participate
invest
Commit resources for gain
- contributeGive to a collective
- pledgeBinding promise given
- put upErect or accommodate
chip in · stake · risk · commit · pony up · cough up · shell out · front · advance · underwrite
bet
Risked stake on outcome
buy-in · raise · call · kitty · pool · contribution · payout · odds · jackpot · winnings
bluff
Calculated false front
check · flop · river · turn · showdown · all-in · stack · hand · flush · straight
opening
Gap or start
- beginningInitial stage of something
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- kickoffOpening play in football
entry · buy-in · first move · threshold · commencement · launch · join in · enter · participate
antes upfolds
Bends upon itself
mucks · drops out · passes · checks out · sits out
antes upbacks out
Withdraws from commitment
welches · reneges · withholds · holds back · opts out
antes uphedges
Planted boundary lines
chickens out · balks · hesitates · holds back · retreats