I assume Jasper is right about grasp, of course, but this is why OPs should provide as much context as possible. Theoretically, at least, "try to grasp the stakes here" could mean something like this:
(because, when dealing with tent stakes, we grasp them with our hands, not our understanding). My example may be far-fetched, but it's plausible:
When you are setting up your tent, try to grasp the stakes here, in your fingers, not in your palm. A cut on a finger is much easier to treat in the wilderness than a cut across the palm of your hand.
However, it's more likely that grasp in this context means understand.
As for stakes, the word is used in gambling as Jasper mentions, but, in this context, I believe it's more abstract. "The stakes are high" means there is much to lose.
So, I'm guessing the original statement is an emotional plea for someone to consider the importance of a particular issue. For example, suppose a doctoral candidate is on the eve of his oral exams. Passing means he'll be accepted into the program, and not passing means he'll be done at the school. He is full of angst over the prospect of flunking. A friend tries to console him:
Don't fret about it. It's just a test.
to which he replies:
Just a test? This isn't just some pop quiz – my whole future hinges on this! Try to grasp the stakes here!
meaning: "Try to understand how important this is!"
The Oxford Idioms Dictionary for Learners of English, 2nd ed. gives the following definition:
the thing (about/with something) is(spoken)
used to introduce an important fact, reason, or explanation:
○ I know you want to expand the business. The thing is, we haven't got the money to do that.
○ I'm really sorry I didn't call you. The thing is, I've been really busy lately.
In my own words, I'd say that this phrase optionally sets a topic of discussion (given with "about topic" or "with topic"), and then it announces to listeners that you're about to say something important about that topic.
Your example is a variation on this idiom:
The thing about Nickelback is, ...
This is the thing about Nickelback.
These two examples mean the same thing. They introduce a topic (Nickelback) and let the listener know that you're about to say something important about that topic.
I think get up the juice in this context (he might actually get up the juice and kiss me) alludes to a more common idiom: get up the courage/nerve, and this juice is used in the sense of "courage" or "nerve"; so the whole clause would mean "he might actually get enough courage and kiss me".
Related definitions given by The Free Dictionary:
get up somethingalsoget something up
to emotionally prepare yourself to do something I finally got up the courage to let her read some of my poetry.
get enough nerve up (redirected from get the nerve up) get enough nerve up (to do something) and get enough courage up (to do something); get enough guts up (to do something); get enough pluck up (to do something); get enough spunk up (to do something); get the nerve up (to do something); get the courage up (to do something); get the guts up (to do something); get the pluck up (to do something); get the spunk up (to do something) Fig. to work up enough courage to do something. I hope I can get enough nerve up to ask her for her autograph. I wanted to do it, but I couldn't get up enough nerve. I thought he would never get up the courage to ask me for a date.
Best Answer
I assume Jasper is right about grasp, of course, but this is why OPs should provide as much context as possible. Theoretically, at least, "try to grasp the stakes here" could mean something like this:
(because, when dealing with tent stakes, we grasp them with our hands, not our understanding). My example may be far-fetched, but it's plausible:
However, it's more likely that grasp in this context means understand.
As for stakes, the word is used in gambling as Jasper mentions, but, in this context, I believe it's more abstract. "The stakes are high" means there is much to lose.
So, I'm guessing the original statement is an emotional plea for someone to consider the importance of a particular issue. For example, suppose a doctoral candidate is on the eve of his oral exams. Passing means he'll be accepted into the program, and not passing means he'll be done at the school. He is full of angst over the prospect of flunking. A friend tries to console him:
to which he replies:
meaning: "Try to understand how important this is!"