"To escalate the situation" means to make a problematic or tense situation more intense or serious.
Sentences with «to escalate the situation»
Your pooch will look at this type of behavior as your way of escalating the situation. (herepup.com)
I also now know how to keep him (and me) calm in potentially escalating situations. (2speakdog.com)
As we develop awareness of these events and of our experience of being in such escalating situations, we can have choice in how we respond. (thecouplescenter.org)