Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles 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.
A2 UK feifei emoji emojis smiley phrase message Up your game: The English We Speak 596 46 Evangeline posted on 2018/04/20 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary