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'Stake' is a bet, a share or interest in something, or a pointed post; 'steak' is a thick slice of meat.
Side-by-side comparison
"Stake" is what is wagered in a bet, a financial interest in a business, or a pointed stick. "At stake" = at risk. "Stakeholder" = a person with an interest in an outcome.
The company has a major stake in the outcome of this negotiation.
He staked his entire reputation on the success of the project.
With so much at stake, we cannot afford to make mistakes.
"Steak" is a thick slice of meat, typically beef, cut from the muscle. "A medium steak" = a steak cooked to medium doneness. "Tuna steak" = a thick cut of tuna.
She ordered a medium-rare ribeye steak for dinner.
The restaurant is famous for its aged steaks and craft cocktails.
A good steak needs very little seasoning, just salt and pepper.
Common mistake
- •"She has a steak in the company" when meaning a financial share is wrong (correct: stake).
- •And "There is a lot at steak" in the expression "at stake" is a surprisingly common error in business writing (correct: at stake).
Trick to remember it
- •"Steak" contains EA like "meat" and "eat", you eat a steak.
- •"Stake" has just A, like "wager," "gamble," "chance", things you risk or put on the line.
Quick rule
Is it the meat you eat? "Steak." Is it the bet, the financial interest, the post, or something at risk (at stake)? "Stake."
Did you know?
The expression "at stake" comes from the historical custom of placing wagers, money or goods, literally on a wooden stake driven into the ground at the site of a competition. The winner claimed everything that hung from the post. Today "what is at stake" is used in politics, business, and sports to describe what can be lost or won. The word STEAK has a different origin: it comes from Old Norse "steik" (to roast on a stick), which brings the story full circle, steak was also cooked on a stick over a fire.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
He ordered a medium-rare _____ with chips and a side salad.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She has a big _____ in the company. She owns 30% of the shares.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy