to escalate it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to escalate it" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to increasing the intensity or seriousness of a situation, often in a professional or conflict resolution context. Example: "If the issue is not resolved soon, we may need to escalate it to management for further action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

The authors of the report have a strategy for trying to move Washington debate so that at the next fork in the road, the choice made is to de-escalate the war and move towards its conclusion, rather than to escalate it further.

Huffington Post

He doesn't want to escalate it to a yellow card.

The Guardian - Sport

Hermes said that there was a system in place that allowed couriers who are not satisfied with the way a field manager handles their request to escalate it.

The Guardian

In the end, he claimed, the R.U.F. had escalated the horror of the war (and provoked the government, too, to escalate it) by deploying special "cut-hands gangs" to lop off civilian limbs.

The New Yorker

Since the ratcheting up of trade barriers began on March 22, companies have been whipsawed by multiple rounds of talks intended to settle the conflict and Trump's periodic threats to escalate it, including by tariffing all $505 billion in Chinese products entering the United States.

The Washington Post

"The government can tolerate the blockade of three or four or five areas and see how the demonstrations go, so the only way the demonstrators can go is to escalate it — spread it to more places, and then they cannot sustain it — or they will become violent," said a person who is involved in the Hong Kong government's decision-making.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

What I wanted to do was escalate it before a kind of resolution.

Los Angeles Times

If the issue is serious, then escalate it to your parents or to an administrator.

WikiHow

And if we can't, we escalate it to their superior and it goes up the chain to a handful of us.

The New York Times

They can escalate it to the development team's Flowdock and the development team can then discuss and resolve the issue in minutes.

TechCrunch

That could escalate it to a physical confrontation.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to escalate it" when you want to convey a deliberate increase in intensity or severity of a situation, conflict, or process. It often implies a strategic decision to advance to a higher level of engagement or action.

Common error

Avoid using "to escalate it" when a more neutral term like 'raise' or 'address' would be more appropriate. Overusing 'escalate' can create an unnecessarily dramatic tone, especially when discussing routine matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to escalate it" primarily functions as an infinitive phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase. It describes the action of increasing the intensity or severity of something. Ludwig AI confirms this through the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to escalate it" is a grammatically correct and usable infinitive phrase that expresses the idea of intensifying a situation. Ludwig AI, confirms that it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news media, wiki, and business settings. While the phrase is not overly common, it is consistently used to describe a deliberate increase in the intensity or severity of something. When considering alternative phrasing, options like "to raise the stakes" or "to amplify the situation" can provide similar meanings with varying degrees of formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to escalate the issue

A more formal way of saying to increase the intensity or level.

to raise the stakes

Focuses on increasing the risks or rewards involved.

to amplify the situation

Suggests making the situation more prominent or significant.

to heighten the tension

Specifically refers to increasing the level of stress or anxiety.

to intensify the matter

Implies making the issue more acute or severe.

to aggravate the problem

Focuses on making an existing problem worse.

to exacerbate the conflict

Specifically refers to worsening a conflict or dispute.

to take it up a notch

An informal way of saying to increase the intensity or level.

to make matters worse

Implies adding to existing problems or difficulties.

to magnify the impact

Suggests increasing the effect or consequence of something.

FAQs

How can I use "to escalate it" in a sentence?

You can use "to escalate it" when you want to express the idea of intensifying a situation or conflict, such as "If the customer remains unsatisfied, we may need to escalate it to a manager."

What are some alternatives to "to escalate it"?

You can use alternatives like "to raise the stakes", "to amplify the situation", or "to intensify the matter" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "to escalate it"?

It's appropriate to use the phrase "to escalate it" when you want to convey the idea of increasing the intensity or seriousness of a situation, often in a professional or conflict resolution context. If you are unsure if you want to increase the intensity, it may be better to avoid the usage of the phrase.

Is "to escalate it" formal or informal?

The phrase "to escalate it" is generally considered neutral to formal, and appropriate for professional or official communications.