double down

Definitions

1. To double one's wager, particularly, the name of a specific doubling bet allowed in blackjack.
   intransitive
2. To significantly increase a risk, investment, or other commitment; to respond to a challenge (e.g. to an opinion) by reinforcing or extending one's position rather than moderating it.
   broadly, figuratively, intransitive

Equivalents

Examples

“He'd bet⟳ three thousand and double⟳ down to six thousand, all of it hanging on the turn⟳ of the next card.”

“Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama all want⟳ to get⟳ out of Iraq. They all want⟳ to double⟳ down in Afghanistan.”

“While 007 has been on extended annual leave⟳ as a result⟳ of Daniel Craig’s cold feet, Taron Egerton’s thoroughly less urbane secret agent Eggsy Unwin has managed to thoroughly outdo him, with Matthew Vaughn’s sequel to his hit 2015 comedy-thriller doubling down on the qualities that marked its predecessor out from the superspy pack⟳: more star-filled, more gleefully grisly, and reaching new heights of skyscraping silliness.”

“[Tucker] Carlson, in his keynote, doubled down on Trump’s recent attacks on Somali-American Rep. Ilhan Omar.”

“[Entertainment Company] Blizzard Doubles Down, Says It Will Continue⟳ to Silence Players on 'Official Channels'.”

CEFR level