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Raise the Stakes

What Does "Raise the Stakes" Mean?

homeidiomsRaise the Stakes
"Raise the stakes" is an English idiom. It means "to increase the level of risk, competition, or challenge in a situation; to make something more significant or intense."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "raise the stakes" used in a sentence:
  • The bidding war between the companies raised the stakes in the acquisition deal.
  • Her decision to run for office raised the stakes in the upcoming election.
  • The high-stakes poker game raised the stakes with each round of betting.
meaning for raise the stakes

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Raise the Stakes" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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