up the ante

faire monter les enchères, aggraver le conflit

Aggraver un désaccord par une action qui augmente le risque de conflit.

En anglais simple : To make a disagreement more serious by doing something that increases the risk of conflict.

• The new threat upped the ante.
• Both sides are upping the ante in this dispute.
• Sending troops would up the ante further.

Comment l'utiliser : up the ante by doing something (The government upped the ante by threatening new sanctions.)

Synonymes : escalate, raise the stakes

Contraires : de-escalate

Expressions courantes : up the ante further, up the ante politically

augmenter la difficulté, corser les choses

Rendre une activité ou un défi plus difficile.

En anglais simple : To make an activity or challenge harder.

• This extra task will up the ante.
• The coach upped the ante with longer runs.
• Try upping the ante by training on hills.

Comment l'utiliser : up the ante by doing something (She upped the ante by adding heavier weights.)

Synonymes : raise the difficulty, raise the bar

Expressions courantes : up the ante considerably, up the ante physically

augmenter la mise initiale

Augmenter la somme que les joueurs doivent verser avant une manche de cartes.

En anglais simple : To increase the money players must put in before a round of cards.

• The players agreed to up the ante.
• We upped the ante to ten dollars before the next hand.
• Will everyone stay if we up the ante?

Comment l'utiliser : up the ante to an amount (They upped the ante to five dollars.)

Synonymes : raise the stakes

Expressions courantes : up the ante again, up the ante slightly

améliorer l’offre

Ajouter quelque chose de meilleur ou de plus précieux pour rendre une offre plus intéressante.

En anglais simple : To make an offer more attractive by adding something better or more valuable.

• A bigger bonus would up the ante.
• The employer upped the ante by offering free housing.
• They are upping the ante to attract experienced staff.

Comment l'utiliser : up the ante with something (The company upped the ante with a larger signing bonus.)

Synonymes : sweeten the deal, improve the offer

Expressions courantes : up the ante financially, up the ante substantially