at stake

Idioms  

1. At risk to be won or lost, as in We have a great deal at stake in this transaction. This phrase uses stake in the sense of something that is wagered. Shakespeare used it in Troilus and Cressida (3:3): “I see my reputation is at stake.” [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

With local strongholds in the balance, familiar faces fighting to hold onto their seats and the future direction of Scottish politics at stake, every party has a part to play in this story.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

In the past, a lot of those fights were personality-based, but now there are some real policy goals at stake.

From Slate • May 7, 2026

"The government has to be brave. It cannot change its mind because its credibility is at stake," said Francisco del Pozo Campos, a spokesman for Greenpeace Spain.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Critics insist the bar is too high, but consider what’s at stake.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

But it was possible the badger could be the soul at stake.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman