Up the ante

Origin of: Up the ante

Up the ante

Increase the intensity or competitiveness of any situation, an Americanism from c.1830 that originally derives from the game of poker where the ante, from the Latin ante meaning before, is the agreed initial stake before the cards are dealt and the game commences. Players have the right to raise or up the ante i.e. raise the stakes if they so wish, during the course of play.