high-stakes — involving the possibility of significant loss, damage, or serious consequences
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: involving the possibility of significant loss, damage, or serious consequences
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhaɪ steɪks/
Example Sentences
- Playing high-stakes poker with your rent money is like using your smartphone as a frisbee.
- The high-stakes exam determines university admission for thousands of students.
- CEOs face high-stakes decisions daily, unlike me who struggles to choose between pizza toppings.
high-stakes
ADJECTIVE[/ˈhaɪ steɪks/]
involving the possibility of significant loss, damage, or serious consequences
In a high-stakes poker game, one wrong move could cost him everything tonight.
In high-stakes deals, handshakes can lead to mistakes!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term originated from gambling vocabulary, where 'high' means elevated or substantial and 'stakes' referred to money or property wagered in games of chance. Over time, the expression expanded beyond gambling to describe any situation involving significant risk or important consequences.
Breakdown
high (elevated, substantial) + stakes (money wagered in gambling; risk or consequence at play). The compound evolved from literal betting terminology to a figurative expression for high-risk or high-consequence situations generally.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Playing high-stakes poker with your rent money is like using your smartphone as a frisbee.”
“The high-stakes exam determines university admission for thousands of students.”
“CEOs face high-stakes decisions daily, unlike me who struggles to choose between pizza toppings.”
“The high-stakes meeting could make or break the merger deal.”
📚Related Words
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