What happens in the video
Hana's team has just lost, so the cupcakes she brought are now "sad cupcakes." Marco jokes that sad cupcakes mean he'll need at least three. Later he says, "Well, we gave it our best tonight," and Hana agrees and gives him the cupcake she saved for him.
1 We'll get them next time.
Tone Hopeful and friendly
Use it to cheer up a teammate right after a loss. "Them" means the other team. Don't say it to the other team's players, because it can sound like a threat.
We'll get them next time.
For example:
A: I can't believe we lost by one point.
B: Hey, we'll get them next time.
A: Yeah. We play them again in May, right?
2 We gave it our best shot.
Tone Kind and proud
Say it when the team tried hard, even though the result was bad. It sounds strange if the team clearly didn't try.
Yeah. Well, we gave it our best shot.
For example:
A: So, how did the match go?
B: We lost, but we gave it our best shot.
A: That's what counts.
3 We came up short.
Tone Honest and calm
"Came up short" means you were not quite good enough to win. It works after games, and also at work when a team misses a goal. It's a neutral line, so it fits a coach, a captain, or a short report.
But at the end of the day, we came up short.
For example:
A: Did your team make the final?
B: No. We played well, but we came up short.
4 It just wasn't our day.
Tone Light and accepting
Use it when luck or small things went wrong. Don't use it when the other team was much stronger, because it can sound like an excuse.
For example:
A: Two shots hit the post. Two!
B: I know. It just wasn't our day.
5 They were the better team today.
Tone Fair and respectful
Use it to give credit to the winners. "Today" keeps the door open for next time. It's a good line for talking to the other team or to fans.
For example:
A: Tough game for you guys.
B: Honestly, they were the better team today.
A: Respect for saying that.
6 Good game, everyone.
Tone Friendly and sporting
Say it to both teams at the end, win or lose. People often shorten it to "Good game." Avoid it if you sound sarcastic or upset when you say it.
For example:
A: Good game, everyone.
B: Thanks. You too. See you next season.
7 So close.
Tone Disappointed but warm
Use it when you nearly won, for example by one point. It's very short and casual, so use it with friends, not in a formal report.
For example:
A: Final score?
B: Two to three. So close.
8 We'll bounce back.
Tone Confident and positive
"Bounce back" means to recover after a bad result. Use it to show the team will be fine. It sounds odd if the season is already over.
For example:
A: That was our third loss in a row.
B: We'll bounce back. We've got a strong group.
9 We learned a lot from this one.
Tone Thoughtful and calm
Use it when the loss showed you what to fix. It works well for a coach or captain talking to the team. With close friends, it can sound a little formal.
For example:
A: Any thoughts after the game, coach?
B: We lost, but we learned a lot from this one.
Common mistakes
-
Not quite
We gave our best shot.Better We gave it our best shot.
The fixed phrase needs "it." Without "it," the sentence sounds incomplete to native speakers.
-
Not quite
We came short.Better We came up short.
The phrase is "come up short." If you drop "up," the sentence no longer has the meaning "not quite enough."
-
Not quite
Saying "We'll get you next time" to the winning team.Better Say "Good game" to the other team and "We'll get them next time" to your own team.
"We'll get them next time" is something you say to cheer up a teammate. Said to the other team, it can sound aggressive.
Quick quiz
Choose your answer for each question, then open the answer to check it.
-
Your team lost by a small amount. Which line means "we were not quite good enough"?
- We came up short.
- Good game, everyone.
- We'll get them next time.
Show the answer (Question 1)
Answer: We came up short. "Came up short" means you almost reached the goal but didn't.
-
Your teammate looks sad after the game. Which line is best for cheering them up?
- They were the better team today.
- We'll get them next time.
- We came up short.
Show the answer (Question 2)
Answer: We'll get them next time. It's hopeful and friendly, and it looks forward to the next game.
-
What is the tone of "We gave it our best shot"?
- Angry and blaming
- Kind and proud
- Formal and cold
Show the answer (Question 3)
Answer: Kind and proud It says the effort was good, even though the result was not.
-
Which line gives credit to the team that won?
- It just wasn't our day.
- So close.
- They were the better team today.
Show the answer (Question 4)
Answer: They were the better team today. It openly says that the other team played better.
-
Which sentence is correct?
- We gave our best shot.
- We gave it our best shot.
- We gave it the best shot of us.
Show the answer (Question 5)
Answer: We gave it our best shot. The fixed phrase is "give it your best shot," with "it."
Questions learners ask
How do you say "we lost" politely in English?
Try "We came up short." It's honest and calm. You can add "but we gave it our best shot" to show that the team worked hard.
What does "come up short" mean?
It means you did not have quite enough to reach a goal. After a game, it means you lost, often by a small amount. People also use it at work, for example when sales come up short.
Is "We'll get them next time" rude?
No, not when you say it to your own team. It's a friendly way to say you'll try again and hope to win. Don't say it to the players who beat you, because it can sound like a challenge.
What should I say to the other team after losing?
"Good game" is the most common and safest line. You can also say "They were the better team today" when you talk about them to other people. Both lines show respect.
Film lines are short quotes used for language teaching. The dialogue belongs to its rightsholders. Hana and Marco are animated characters made with Google Flow.
