The United States decides to increase tariffs on China, in retaliation for a move that China has previously made.īy retaliating, the United States is said to be 'upping the ante', as they are increasing the 'stakes'. In terms of general usage, 'upping the ante' occurs when you are increasing the stakes, and thus increasing the amount of your potential pot as well.Īn example: Let's say that the United States and China are involved in a trade war. So, if you are 'upping the ante', this means that you are increasing the amount that each player is putting into the hand. In poker, an 'ante' is a forced bet that all players at the table must put in before the hand gets underway.
By increasing the stakes, you are increasing your potential payoff as well. The term ante means before in Latin, so it makes sense that ante bets are made pre-flop. 'Up the ante' means 'increasing the stakes'. By definition, an ante is a forced bet made in the beginning of the round. The term 'up the ante' got its start in the world of poker but has transitioned over to mainstream usage as well. What does the term 'up the ante' mean? What is the definition of the term 'up the ante'?
