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raise the ante

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raise/up the ante

to increase your demands or to increase the risks in a situation, in order to achieve a better result

Usage notes: The ante is an amount of money that must be paid in card games before each part of the game can continue.

The government has upped the ante by refusing to negotiate until a ceasefire has been agreed.

See also: ante, raise

raise the ante

Increase the price or cost of something, as in We'd hoped to invest in some land, but they've raised the ante and now we can't afford it . This term alludes to the ante or stakes of gambling. [Slang; late 1800s]

See also: ante, raise