ratcheting

Unfortunately the leadership on both sides has a stake in ratcheting the tensions up as high as they can.

The Invasion | ATTACKERMAN 2009

Seeing how Marsan is on the outside it just follows that the plan concocted will eventually be sniffed out and the trailer just does an excellent job in ratcheting up the excitement.

This Week In Trailers: Future X-Cops, The Myth of the American Sleepover, Shelter, The Disappearance of Alice Creed, No One Knows About Persian Cats | /Film 2010

I thought the show tried to get into some depth about some deaf community topics like cochlear implants, but the show went too far in ratcheting up the drama, although it did discuss some sides of the controversy as the plot moved forward.

"Cold Case" features deaf actors, storyline BA Haller 2008

So, going on a hunch about the buying habits of trend-driven foodies, probably not anytime soon, unless the farmers get wise to the idea of ratcheting up the price.

Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage 2008

Jack Straw knew exactly what he was doing when he made his remarks, namely ratcheting up the tension between 'us' and 'them'.

Veiled threats? Rachel 2006

He developed a slight tremor in his hands and a "ratcheting" in his arm movements.

Despite health challenge, senior athlete stays in the lineup 2010

He developed a slight tremor in his hands and a "ratcheting" in his arm movements.

Despite health challenge, senior athlete stays in the lineup 2010

At the risk of getting all semanticky about it, "ratcheting" something "up" suggests a greater intensity of the message in question -- not a greater circulation of that message.

Obama Ad Responding To Ayers Spot Now Running In Virginia, Too 2009

On the flip side, a species which mutates too rapidly loses the "ratcheting" effect of evolution — it is unable to accurately "save" the mutations which worked and pass them onto the next generation.

A Genomic Balancing Act 2007

And I think what you see is the democrats kind of ratcheting up the pressure.

CNN Transcript Jul 9, 2007 2007