1
general::
Phrase(s): escalate something into something
to cause something to intensify. • He escalated the argument into a vicious fight. • The dictator tried to escalate the disagreement into a cause for war., Phrase(s): escalate into something
to intensify into something; to increase gradually into something. • This argument is going to escalate into something serious very soon. • These cases of the flu could escalate into a real epidemic.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs