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Glite Dictionary
high-stakes affair

high-stakes affair

7.5
A situation that has big risks and serious results for the people involved, like a trial or business deal
  • noun
translation icon : asunto de alto riesgo
  • Presidential elections are high-stakes affairs.

Examples

  • The merger was a high-stakes affair, with each company's future hanging in the balance.

  • Competing in the championship game is always a high-stakes affair for the players and coaches.

  • The negotiation turned into a high-stakes affair as both sides had a lot to gain or lose.

Synonyms

risky business
vshigh-stakes affair
  • Informal
9 4.4

An activity that could make you lose a lot of money or get hurt

focuses on results that have serious consequences or importance for people

How Risky

life-or-death
28 6.7
high-stakes affair
7.5

Surface Forms

high-stakes affair singular
high-stakes affairs plural

Morphology

high-stakes + affair

The phrase is transparently compositional: 'high' (large/intense) modifies 'stakes' (what is at risk), and 'affair' (a matter or event) yields an event involving large risks or consequences. This follows regular English compounding and adjective+noun logic, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can derive the overall meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

High-stakes affair comes from gambling. In bets a stake or stakes is what you risk and a high stake means a big 'bet', so the phrase means an event with a lot to lose or a big 'risk'.