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+ Feifei Bye.