ratchet up
phrasal verbratchet (something) up
- to increase, or make something increase, repeatedly and by small amounts
（使）逐渐小幅增长 - Overuse of credit cards has ratcheted up consumer debt to unacceptable levels.
滥用信用卡使消费债务逐渐增加到了难以接受的地步。
- Overuse of credit cards has ratcheted up consumer debt to unacceptable levels.