at stake

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]

Example Sentences

For Braekhus, the future of Norwegian boxing itself was at stake.

From BBC

It’s as if Baumbach and Clooney are silently agreeing that, in the pursuit of the public’s entertainment, someone or something will always be privately at stake.

From Salon

There was no title at stake because a big, strong fighter named George Foreman, another Olympic gold medalist, had taken over the division and appeared invincible.

From Los Angeles Times

Local armed groups known as the Joint Forces fighting alongside the army also have a lot at stake.

From BBC

“California uses the grant funding at stake in our lawsuit to protect the safety of our communities from acts of terrorism and other disasters — meaning the stakes are quite literally life and death,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times