English Phrase of the Day

Definitions

English > English
at stake
1. prep. 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?
Analysis
at		©
1. prep. In, near, or in the general vicinity of a particular place.
Caesar was at Rome;  at the corner of Fourth Street and Vine;  at Jim’s house
2. prep. (indicating time) (Indicating occurrence in an instant of time or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker's perspective.)
at six o’clock;  at closing time;  at night.
3. prep. In the direction of (often in an unfocused or uncaring manner).
stake		©
1. n. A piece of wood or other material, usually long and slender, pointed at one end so as to be easily driven into the ground as a marker or a support or stay.
We have surveyor's stakes at all four corners of this field, to mark exactly its borders.
2. n. (croquet) A piece of wood driven in the ground, placed in the middle of the court, that is used as the finishing point after scoring 12 hoops in croquet.
3. n. A stick inserted upright in a lop, eye, or mortise, at the side or end of a cart, flat car, flatbed trailer, or the like, to prevent goods from falling off.
4. n. (with definite article) The piece of timber to which a person condemned to death was affixed to be burned.

Example Sentences

There is a lot more at stake here.  But there is credibility at stake here.  The case, which is rare since most recording companies settle their disputes out of court, has exposed the predatory culture of the rap industry and the huge sums of money at stake.  This time the Tories face a harder decision, pitting heart against head, but they must understand that there is a public interest at stake too.  Is maleness what's at stake here?

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