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Glite Dictionary
to lift one's game

to lift one's game

6.1
Try to do better to meet higher standards
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : mejorar su rendimiento
  • After seeing his rival's progress, he knew he had to lift his game to keep up.

Examples

  • If the team wants to reach the finals, they will need to lift their game.

  • He needs to lift his game to compete.

  • She realized her presentation skills needed work, so she decided to lift her game.

  • The team lifted their game in the finals.

  • The coach told the players they needed to lift their game to win the championship.

  • If you want to succeed in this competition, you must lift your game and work harder than ever.

  • After receiving feedback, she realized it was time to lift her game in order to meet the project deadlines.

Synonyms

to step up one's game
vsto lift one's game
  • Informal
6 4.9

Work harder to improve your skills and do better

is improvement aimed at meeting expectations rather than only reacting
to hit one's stride
vsto lift one's game
  • Informal
3 6.5

Start performing at your best after some practice

focuses on improving to meet competition rather than reaching a peak

Antonyms

decline
439 3.9

A gradual loss in amount, quality, or value

to slack off
  • Informal
3 3.9

To become less strong or busy

How Well

to excel
58 3.7
to lift one's game
  • Informal
6.1
to step up
74 3.4
to improve
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

lift one's game infinitive
lifted one's game past
lifted one's game past participle
lifting one's game present participle
lifts one's game third person singular

Morphology

lift + one + game

The meaning 'to improve one's performance' is inferable from combining 'lift' (to raise/improve) with 'one's game' (a metaphorical use of 'game' for one's performance or skill), so there is a clear compositional logic. However, the use of 'game' to mean 'performance/standard' is metaphorical and may not be immediately obvious to a B1 learner without prior exposure, making the expression only partially predictable.

Etymology

Lift one's game comes from sports language and the image is simple: imagine a player trying to lift their game up to a higher level so they can beat stronger opponents. That's why it means 'to improve your performance'.