From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishratchet up phrasal verbto increase something by a small amount, especially after a series of increases, or to increase in this wayratchet something ↔ up Raising the minimum wage would ratchet up real incomes in general. The debate will ratchet up a notch on Wednesday when the Commission publishes its report. → ratchet→ See Verb tableFrom Longman Business Dictionaryratchet something → up phrasal verb [intransitive, transitive] to increase, or make something increaseEnvironmental standards were ratcheted up to meet demands for clean water.Raising the base rate will ratchet up the cost of borrowing. → ratchet→ See Verb table
