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  • 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.

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

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