ratchet up

present singular third person ratchets up · participle present ratcheting up · participle past ratcheted up · past ratcheted up

1. ambitransitiveTo increase; especially, to increase by degrees in a way that only gets worse, never experiencing any reprieves.

   Near-synonyms: dial up, hike up

   2 more examples

   After all, nations are pouring massive resources into military applications of AI, and many citizens don’t know or don’t care. Yet that quiescent attitude may change over time, as the domestic use of AI surveillance ratchets up, and that technology is increasingly identified with shadowy apparatuses of control, rather than democratically accountable local powers.

   2020 October 15, Frank Pasquale, “‘Machines set loose to slaughter’: the dangerous rise of military AI”, in The Guardian

   Living legend Miley Cyrus and songwriter/producer/drummer Maxx Morando have recently ratcheted up their PDA, and if you're new here ("here" being their relationship), don't worry about it. We put together a timeline just for you—yw!

   2024 July 12, Mehera Bonner, “Serena Williams's Daughter Olympia Made an Adorable Appearance on the ESPYS Red Carpet!”, in Cosmopolitan

   Synonyms: dial up, hike up · Antonyms: dial back, relieve, let off, let up