Question of the Day #348

"President Trump ratchets up attacks after George Conway questions his mental fitness, calling him 'husband from hell'"
From the headline of this article at ABC News.

上記の文で、ratchet upの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "ratchet up" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、


〔徐々に〕上がる、増える

句自動詞と句他動詞の両方として使うことができます。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

1. To increase in speed, intensity, or force over several incremental degrees.
2. To cause something to increase in speed, intensity, or force over several incremental degrees. In this usage, a nounor pronoun can be used between "ratchet" and "up."

Examples

• Campaigns on both sides of thereferendum have been ratcheting up over the last few days. 
•  The film's tension ratchets up from beginning to end,leaving you on the edge of your seat by the time the credits roll. 
• Overuse of credit cards has ratcheted up consumer debt to unacceptable levels.
• The debate should ratchet up awareness of the problem among members of the general public.
• The government was accused of ratcheting up pressure on the health services.