Up your game: The English We Speak

Neil: Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Neil.

Feifei: And I'm Feifei.

Neil: Actually, Feifei, can you help me with something?

Feifei: Go on.

Neil: There's this girl I like. I want to ask her for coffee.

But I don't want to seem too serious or creepy

or anything. Just friendly.

Feifei: And you're writing her a message? OK.

Neil: I just can't find the words.

Feifei: Easy. Stick a couple of emojis on there.

Much less formal!

Neil: You mean, like, a smiley face?

Feifei: Yeah, but those are so last year.

Neil: Maybe a love heart?

Feifei: Seriously? That's a bit too much.

You need to up your emoji game!

Neil: My emoji game... like an emoji

of a video game... or a football?

Feifei: No. The phrase 'to raise your game',

or 'to up your game', means to improve.

Neil: Yes, it's a good phrase.

Feifei, you're not working hard enough,

you need to up your game!

Feifei: That's not true... but good use of up your game.

The phrase has now developed a bit.

We often add what we're trying to improve

before the word 'game'.

Neil: Like this:

Examples: I never finish novels.

I need to up my reading game.

I badly need to work on my interview game

before my big interview next week.

You could do with a bit more exercise, mate.

You should raise your running game!

Feifei: Great. Hope those examples help.

Any progress with that text message?

Neil: Here goes: "Lucy. Please have a coffee with me

tomorrow." And then some coffee emojis.

Feifei: Well, it's direct! But I still think we need to up your

emoji game. Actually, and your texting game.

Oh, and your dating game...

We've got a lot of work to do!

Neil: Oh, ok. Well I already sent the message.

Let's hope it works!

And she's replied already.

Feifei: No way, what did she say?

Neil: "Neil. I thought you'd never ask!

I'd love to have coffee. 3pm?"

And then a couple of big smiley emojis.

Feifei: Wow, congratulations.

Maybe it's me who needs to up my game.

Neil: Looks like it!

Neil and Feifei: Bye.