raise the stakes

raise the stakes (third-person singular simple present raises the stakes, present participle raising the stakes, simple past and past participle raised the stakes)

1. (poker) To raise the stakes of a hand of poker.

   With a royal flush, he decided to raise the stakes.

2. (idiomatic) to increase in significance or risk.

   The bank robber decided to take a hostage in order to raise the stakes.

• sweeten the pot
• up the ante