raise the ante

idiom

1

: to raise the cost or price

The popular actor first demanded twice the salary offered him but then kept raising the ante.

2

: to increase the risk or possible harm that could result from something

—often + on

The new law raises the ante on people who cheat on their taxes.

3

: to set a higher standard or goal

—often + on

The film raises the ante on special effects.

Examples of raise the ante in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This time, the Jets would have to raise the ante to 120% of this year’s tag, as per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, which would come to $12.734 million, which still would almost be less than Maye’s asking price. —J.p. Pelzman, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2021