1. to raise the cost or risk of an activity.

By adding new inspectors, the customs service is upping the ante for smugglers.

2. to increase the quality of something.

Foxx says he intends to up the ante in nightclub entertainment by introducing new, extremely talented performers.

raise/up the ante

to increase your demands or to increase the risks in a situation, in order to achieve a better result.

The government has upped the ante by refusing to negotiate until a ceasefire has been agreed.

We have no desire to see a humanitarian crisis there. Unless the rockets stop, though, how can we move the supplies in? December marks the end of the six-month truce. Are they upping the ante before a new agreement?

ante n.(赌纸牌下的)赌注,已付的金额; 分担额;vt. & vi.(尤指赌账)付账; 付出, 支付分担额,下赌注; 拿出(钱, 意见等)

They anted up 100, 000 yuan to build a museum.

他们拿出十万元兴建博物馆。

习惯用语ante up

[美俚](不得已而)付账, 付钱; 提出

ante 赌注之前事前预支下赌注 ante up 下注付款

Upping the Ante 提高期

ante-前缀

1. 表示"前面，先"

ante meridiem 午前

antebellum 战前的

antebrachium 前臂

antecede 先前

antecedence 先行，在先，居先 antecedent 先例，前科，前项，先行，先前

antecedency 先行

antecedent [ˌæntiˈsi:dənt] n. 发生在前的事, 先例 adj. 在前的, 在先的, 先行的

antechamber 前室前厅接待室

ante post 赌于赛马前

antetype 前型

2. 采取措施前

exante

exante approach 事前研究