at stake

See stake.

• "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?"
• "I see my reputation is at stake My fame is shrewdly gored."
• "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?"
• "[…] 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