# step up one's game

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/step-up-ones-game
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To improve one's performance, or the quality of one's work.

## Examples

- You need to step up your game to win this match.
- The team lost the first three games, so the coach told them they must step up their game to reach the playoffs.
- Recognizing that his competitors had surpassed his previous innovations, the entrepreneur realized he had to step up his game to maintain his company's market position.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.