upping the ante
Increasing the bet
Upping the ante means raising the stakes or increasing what's at risk in a situation.
The phrase comes from poker, where the ante is the initial bet required to play.
Beyond gambling, it describes escalating demands, commitments, or intensity: The company upped the ante by offering free shipping.
Each side kept upping the ante until negotiations collapsed.
- raiseLift or increase
- increaseGrowth in amount
- pokerHearth implement for coals
- intensifyIncrease in degree
- push the envelopeChallenge established boundaries
escalate · straddle · gamble · brinkmanship · arms race · enhance · power plays · power move · magnify · calculated risk · elevate · high stakes · skin in the game · one-upmanship · raise the stakes · upgrade · competitive spirit · all in
upping the antebacking down
Withdrawing from a stance
de-escalating · scaling back · standing down · letting it go · pulling back
upping the antefolding
Bending something over itself
cutting one's losses · bowing out · withdrawing · pulling out · walking away
upping the antebacking off
Ceasing to pursue
caving in · yielding · capitulating · conceding · surrendering