ante up

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ante up (idioms)
/ˈænti ˈʌp/

Variation

• up the ante

Meaning

• Increase the stakes, risk, or effort in a situation.
• Raise the level of expectation or demand.
• Contribute money or resources, especially in a shared context.
• Enhance commitment or investment to achieve a goal.
• Take a situation to a more intense level.

Example Sentences

1. If we want this project to succeed, we’ll need to ante up more resources.
2. To compete effectively, the team decided to up the ante by hiring a world-class coach.
3. The rival company upped the ante by slashing their prices drastically.
4. Everyone had to ante up before joining the high-stakes poker game.
5. She upped the ante in the debate by revealing shocking new evidence.

Origin and History

The term “up the ante” originates from the game of poker. In poker, an ante is a small, mandatory bet that all players contribute at the beginning of a hand to create the pot. The phrase “up the ante” means increasing this initial stake. Over time, it became a common way to describe raising the stakes in a broader sense.

Literal and Figurative Expansion

By the mid-19th century, the phrase extended beyond poker. It was used to describe raising stakes or increasing intensity in various competitive or risky situations, such as negotiations or conflicts.

Earliest Printed Record

One of the earliest mentions of “raise the ante” appears in texts about card games like Hoyle’s Games Improved from the 19th century.

Hoyle’s Games Improved, originally authored by Edmond Hoyle and later revised by Charles Jones, Esq., was first published in 1790, with editions continuing into the 19th century. This influential guide covers rules, strategies, and betting methods for games like whist, piquet, chess, and backgammon. It served as a cornerstone text for recreational card games and gambling practices, establishing standardized gameplay and introducing terminology like “ante,” foundational to modern gambling idioms such as “up the ante.”

Latin Roots

The word “ante” is derived from Latin, meaning “before.” This reflects its role as a preliminary stake in card games and its temporal connotations in broader usage.

Broader Cultural Usage

As the phrase gained popularity, it began to signify efforts to intensify situations in various domains, such as business or politics. It is often associated with strategic actions to gain an advantage or outmaneuver opponents.

See also: up the ante

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