The phrase "to stake (someone)" is a poker term: http://www.poker-for-me.com/images/poker_chips.jpg In professional poker (or any time people play for real money), the "stake" is the amount of money each person must be willing to pay to join the game. The phrase "to stake someone" means that you are willing to pay the money for them to enter the game. Usually when you stake someone else, you believe they have a good chance of winning the game, and you have made a deal to share the winnings with the person if they do win. That is the usual meaning. However, "to stake someone" COULD also be used to mean "to force a stake into someone" (e.g., to kill a vampire, etc.): http://artbeyond.webbuilder.hostbasket.com/images/Vampire%20stake%20%20Hammer.jpg http://www.drkrm.com/stake.jpg

'stake' - the money risked on a gamble bet, stakes, wager gamble - money that is risked for possible monetary gain jackpot, kitty, pot - the cumulative amount involved in a game (such as poker) ante - (poker) the initial contribution that each player makes to the pot kitty, pool - the combined stakes of the betters pool - any communal combination of funds; "everyone contributed to the pool"