Out-neutral / Negotiating url
We are adversaries
- It’s every man for himself.
- Let’s face it, we’re on opposite sides of the fence.
- I’m not willing to wait.
- I beg to differ with you.
- You give me no choice.
- It’s a dog eat dog world.
- I’m just acting in my own best interest, and I expect you to do the same.
- May the best man win!
- That goes both ways.
- That’s for me to know and you to find out.
- I’m ready to play hardball.
- Take it or leave it.
- Don’t ask me any questions and I won’t tell you any lies.
- I’m dead set against it.
- I need the whole kit and caboodle.
- All’s fair in love and war.
We are adversaries
Out-neutral / Advice url
Others - Protect yourself-2
- Write him off.
- Don’t let him stand in your way.
- Don’t let him off so easy.
- He sure is fickle.
- Give him the cold shoulder.
- Now you have your chance to get even.
- Don’t turn your back on him.
- Without you realizing it, he’s been robbing you blind.
- Head him off at the pass.
- Don’t mess with him when he’s in a bad mood because he has a short fuse.
- Steer clear of him when he has that look in his eyes.
- He’s nutty as a fruitcake.
- I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.
Others - Protect yourself-2
In-negative / Doubt url
After wife suggests to husband that he run for Mayor
- How am I going to pull that off?
- That’s easier said than done.
- I’m not so sure.
- It sounds like it’s nothing more than a pipe-dream.
- Hey, you never know.
- What are we waiting for?
- I’m having second thoughts about it.
- I think you have more confidence in me than I have in myself.
- I don’t even know if it’s worth the effort.
- It’s a nice idea, but what are the odds of it succeeding?
- I don’t know if I’m up for it.
- What do you think the odds are of it succeeding?
- I appreciate your vote of confidence, but do you think it’s worth a try?
- We have to be realistic about it.
- I have my doubts.
- Should I give your suggestion the benefit of the doubt?
- Are you pulling my leg?
After wife suggests to husband that he run for Mayor
In-positive / Surprise url
Learning that a friend is ill
- His illness came out of the blue.
- He’s never been sick a day in his life.
- I don’t know what to say.
- I didn’t expect that.
- It’s beyond comprehension.
- What brought this on?
- I still can’t believe it’s true.
- I’m in a state of denial.
- It came as a great shock.
- I found the news earth shattering.
Learning that a friend is ill
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Not getting into the college that’s the first choice
- Now that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
- I think I’m just have to start getting used to it.
- That’s all there is to it.
- Let’s make the most of it.
- It’s just as well.
- You’ve got to take the good with the bad.
Not getting into the college that’s the first choice
In-positive / Hope url
The score is tied towards the end of a baseball game
- I can hardly wait.
- We’ll see.
- That’s not such a long time to wait.
- It will be cause for a celebration.
- I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
- Victory and success feel so tantalizingly close, that I can almost taste it.
- Cross your fingers.
- I’m counting on it.
- Even if the news isn’t what we’re hoping for, better luck next time.
- I can’t stand the suspense, and the sooner we find out the better.
- It looks like we might have a winner very soon.
The score is tied towards the end of a baseball game
Out-positive / Apology url
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise
- I only wish I could have done more.
- I did the best I could.
- I’m sorry, my hands are tied.
- It might not make any sense to you, but that’s what they decided, and I hope you understand.
- I’m sorry that it’s not the answer you hoped for.
- My apologies that it took me longer to get the answer than I thought it would.
- I hope that we’ll be able to give you a better answer next time.
- I’m hoping this is something you can live with for the time being.
- I was told to explain to you that it’s due to circumstances beyond their control.
- Please give us a chance to make it up to you next time.
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise
In-positive / Determination url
Manager with a new employee
- The early bird catches the worm.
- I won’t take no for an answer.
- Let’s skip the formalities, and cut to the chase.
- I'm going to get right down to brass tacks.
- Let’s get a move on it.
- A word to the wise is sufficient.
- It’s just not done that way around here.
- Do whatever it is you have to do.
Manager with a new employee
In-negative / Desperation url
Can’t pay the mortgage
- Things have gotten totally out of hand.
- I’m having trouble making ends meet.
- What am I going to do?
- Sometimes I feel that it's all going to be downhill from here.
- I hope I haven’t blown it.
- Nowadays, it’s hard to make ends meet.
- I’m hanging by a thread.
- If this goes on I’m going to lose my mind.
- I was up all night worrying about it.
- I feel down and out.
- Sometimes I tell myself, ‘Don’t even bother’.
- When I hope that things will get better, I realize: don’t hold your breath.
- I feel like I’m beating a dead horse.
Can’t pay the mortgage
Out-positive / Concern url
After a friend found out that a mistake he made led to internet identity theft
- I feel bad for you.
- You’ve been taken to the cleaners.
- You left yourself wide open.
- You’re as white as a sheet.
- Your temperature is quite high, and I can feel by your forehead that you’re burning up, so why don’t you just lie down and take it easy for a while until you feel better.
- You’re an old softy.
- Now you’ve really gotten yourself into a pickle.
- I don’t like the sound of this.
- You’re nothing but a push over.
After a friend found out that a mistake he made led to internet identity theft
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
This is my viewpoint
- I hope I’m making it crystal clear.
- That just what I said.
- I rest my case.
- I made my point.
- I’ll get right to the point.
- You know where I stand.
- I meant what I said.
- For whatever it’s worth, here are my 2 cents.
- I really mean it.
- It’s all here in black and white.
- That’s my point exactly.
- Let’s set the record straight.
- If you get my drift.
- I’m well aware of that.
- There’s something you ought to know.
- Of course that’s what I meant.
- You can talk till you’re blue in the face, you still won’t convince me.
- I hate to be blunt.
- There’s no, ifs ands or buts about it.
- I’ll be honest with you.
- Take it or leave it.
- What you see is what you get.
- If you want a deal, you’re going to have to up the ante.
- I’m going to cut to the chase.
- It doesn’t make sense to do it any other way.
- I wanted to run this idea by you.
This is my viewpoint
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who just got into a top business school
- You sure have come a long way.
- I’m not surprised that you succeeded, I always knew you had it in you.
- Shoot for the moon, and give it all you’ve got.
- You’re as smart as a whip.
- There’s no limit to what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it.
- What more could you ask for?
- With this under your belt, a golden future can be yours.
- I have absolute faith in you.
- It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.
- I don’t know how you accomplished so much in such a short period of time.
For a friend who just got into a top business school