up the ante

idiom

1

: to raise the cost or price

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

2

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

—often + on

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

3

: to set a higher standard or goal

—often + on

The film ups the ante on special effects.

Examples of up the ante in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To up the ante in your wrinkle-fighting, radiance-boosting regimen, consider LED light therapy. —Claire Sullivan, WWD, 24 Oct. 2024

Disney flexes its culinary muscles with a number of award-winning annual Food & Wine festivals that up the ante of the park’s already eclectic (and delicious) offerings. —Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2024

Wrap the vessel as is, or up the ante by filling it with seasonal sweets or an Amazon gift card. —Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2024

And then puts the onus back on producers to react in kind and up the ante. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2024