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What Does “Step Up Your Game” Mean in Business English?
- Erin West
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 15
Learn Business English vocabulary with our Phrase of the Week!
This week’s phrase is perfect for situations when someone needs to improve their performance or show more effort.
What Would You Do in This Situation?
Imagine this:
Your manager says the team needs better results this quarter. Your coworker looks at you and says:
I think we all need to step up our game.
So, what does 'step up your game' mean in Business English?
This Week’s Phrase:
STEP UP YOUR GAME
idiom
to try harder and do better than before to succeed at work or in competition
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What Does "Step Up Your Game" Mean in Business English?
Listen to a Real-Life Example
More Real-Life Examples
You’ve been late twice this week—it's time to step up your game.
Sales are down. We’ve got to step up our game before the next quarter.
If you want that promotion, you’re gonna have to step up your game.
They hired someone new, and he’s really stepped up his game.
The competition is getting serious. We all need to step up our game.
Ever since her performance review, she’s totally stepped up her game.
This project’s high-profile. Let’s step up our game and show what we can do.
Let’s Chat!
What's one area in your life or work where you feel you need to step up your game?
I think I need to step up my game in speaking English. I understand more now, but I still feel shy when I talk. I want to be more confident and use more words. (Oksana, B1 English speaker)
Now it’s your turn!
Share your story in the comments — we’d love to hear it!
Review what you’ve learned! Click the image to try a 5-Question Quiz based on our latest phrases.
This Week’s Business English Quiz:
Step Up Your Game, Play It By Ear, Go Through the Roof, Back to Square One, & Get Some Pushback
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