My super A-game

Question

“I remember one time (German guitarist) Michael Schenker came to my house in Arizona unannounced and said, ‘I wanna do this project together,’ ” he says. “I was a fan of his since I was little, so to have this guy ask me to do a project with him? I just remember being so excited and I wanted to bring my super A-game to what we did. We did some stuff and it never got released or anything, but I just remember that feeling when I was working on it, and if I could just give some of these guys that feeling and get the fruits of their labor and that enthusiasm, man, it could be something amazing.”

What does this "my super A-game" in the above paragraph mean? Also, is "one's super A-game" a fixed phrase?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

seagullWhat does this "my super A-game" in the above paragraph mean?

My very best effort.

seagull is "one's super A-game" a fixed phrase?

Not really.

Seagull · Answer

Thank you very much, Mister Micawber.
What exactly is this 'super A-game'? Apparently, it has something with poker games, as far as I've researched.

Mister Micawber · Answer

seagullt has something with poker games, as far as I've researched.

I'd like to see your research. I cannot associate it with poker.

Seagull · Answer

I happened to find a website where a poker player uses this expression and assumed that this A has something to do with the Ace. I found that it is not necessarily so after some further research. Sorry for my confusing remark.

Mister Micawber · Answer

seagullSorry for my confusing remark.

Not confusing—I don't know the source of the phrase, either!

Anonymous · Answer

The origin of this is that "A" is the highest grade you can get in school. So you have expressions based on this: A-list (the list of people that get invited to the best parties, etc.); "Give him an A for effort (he gave a superior effort to the task, even though the results were not favorable to him)"; "That's A-okay with me (that's very much okay as far as I'm concerned)"; etc.

And we have the expression "my A-game," meaning my very best effort or strategy. But in the US that's often not enough for people, and so you might hear "my super A-game," meaning my stupendously best effort or strategy. You hear this expression used in all kinds of contexts:

Coach to his team: "If we're going to beat ___ on Saturday, we've got to bring our A-game (our very best effort)."

"The best poker players in the world will be there, so if I'm going to have any chance of making it to the finals, I'll have to bring my super A-game (my absolutely best effort and strategy)."

"This guy is good, one of the best tennis players in Spain. If you're going to best him, you'll have to bring your A-game."

Seagull · Answer

Thank you very much indeed, Anonymous. I learned lots of things from your answer. You gave me a clear etymological explanation and an A list of examples. They made me realize that I have to bring my super A-game when I study English.

Mister Micawber · Answer

seagull You gave me a clear etymological explanation

No, he gave you no etymology, seagull. He just gave you his opinion and some examples.

My super A-game

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