at stake

See stake.

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at stake

1. (idiomatic) At issue, at risk.

   What is at stake in these next 20 minutes is the championship.

   Doesn't he realize that all of our lives are at stake here too?

   • c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:

     I see my reputation is at stake
     My fame is shrewdly gored.

   • 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 14:

     How, Lucia, wou’dst thou have me sink away
     In pleasing Dreams, and lose my self in Love,
     When ev’ry moment Cato’s Life’s at Stake?

   • 1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter V, in Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volumes (please specify |volume=III or IV), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:

     […] as I have a great deal more at stake on this point than anybody else can have, I think it rather unnecessary in you to be advising me.

• up the ante
• on the line
• ride on