What does 'lowkey' mean? The English We Speak

Hello and welcome to The English

We Speak with me, Feifei...

...and me, Roy.

We may sound a little different - that's

because we are not able

to record in our normal studios

during the coronavirus outbreak.

Now Roy, stop using your phone!

We're trying to talk!

Ahhh I know what game you're playing!

You're probably too embarrassed

to tell people which

game it is - and in this programme

we have a word to use when

you want to be discreet,

or not let people know something.

Well I absolutely love this new app game -

it's the one where you play as

a dog that has to

catch bananas and throw them through

a hoop! Have you played it?

I know the one! It's called

'Banana catching dog hoop challenge -

the game'. I am lowkey

addicted to playing it.

What? Why did you say 'lowkey'?

Ahh, I used that word because I don't

want everyone to know what

I'm doing. Surely you

have some self-respect and don't want

people to know that you're playing

a game for 8 year olds?

No, I don't care what people think

of me. I still watch cartoons,

play video games and

read comics.

Well, I'm sure there's something you want

to be discreet about. We'll find out right

after these examples.

I lowkey love watching romantic

comedies. I tell my girlfriend

I don't, but secretly

I do.

He is lowkey in love with Eric!

He talks about him all the time,

but he won't admit it.

I lowkey fell over walking to the shops.

I'm so embarrassed.

This is The English We Speak from BBC

Learning English and we're talking

about the word 'lowkey',

which is used when you don't want to

admit to something.

Most people know 'low-key' as

an adjective which describes

things - such as events - that

are quiet.

Like a low-key wedding - one without

many guests held in a modest venue.

In the use in this programme, lowkey is

used as an adverb to mean

'secretly' or 'moderately'.

It's also spelt as one word. You know

the opposite to 'lowkey' is 'high key'?

When you're

proud about something and you

want everyone to know, you use

the term 'high key'.

Roy. I'm more subtle and discreet than you.

Well, I high key love playing video games

- even that app game.

Yes, I know it's meant

for young children, but it's

still really cool.

I lowkey enjoy them too, - I don't want

to tell anyone.

Well, I lowkey have about twenty

other games like 'Banana catching

dog hoop challenge - the

game' on my phone!

I knew it! I knew you'd want to be

low-key about something.

Do you want to play one?

Of course, I do! Bye, Roy.

Bye.