Out-positive / Agreement url
I think it’s good that you’ve been going to sleep earlier and getting more sleep.
- I’m glad you approve.
- You better believe it!
- That’s the understatement of the year.
- That’s exactly how I feel about it.
- I can feel the improvement already.
I think it’s good that you’ve been going to sleep earlier and getting more sleep.
In-negative / Disappointment url
Losing money in a scam
- I had a sneaking suspicion that it was too good to be true.
- What is the world coming to?
- I wasn’t thinking straight.
- I’ll be the first to admit, what I did wasn’t too bright.
- Is nothing sacred?
- There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark.
- It stinks to high heaven.
- I should be ashamed of myself.
- I’m old enough to know better.
- It killed my appetite.
- How did I get into this mess?
- That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
- I feel used, betrayed, and double-crossed.
- Boy, now I’m really in a pickle.
- They really took me to the cleaners.
- I’m down in the dumps.
- It's taken the wind out of my sails.
Losing money in a scam
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
I find your viewpoint hard to understand-1
- That’s wishful thinking.
- That’s neither here nor there.
- That leads us right back to where we started.
- Is that too much to ask?
- That’s beside the point.
- Now that’s a horse of a different color.
- You’re missing the point.
- You’ve missed the whole point.
- That’s not the same thing at all.
- It happens to be true whether you choose to believe or not.
- Put it whatever way you want.
- I wasn’t born yesterday.
I find your viewpoint hard to understand-1
Out-negative / Anger url
You have gone too far
- I think you’ve gone just a little bit too far this time.
- You’re in big trouble.
- Are you threatening me?
- Now that was a cheap shot.
- You’re down right nasty.
- Aren’t you carrying this a bit too far?
- Who the heck do you think you are?
- Stop that hanky-panky.
- Don’t you have a shred of decency?
- Is nothing sacred anymore?
- How can anyone in his right mind say something like what you just said.
You have gone too far
In-negative / Doubt url
Being told you should convince the company president to change policy
- That’s like the tail wagging the dog.
- That’s not the way to go about doing it.
- I don’t think that will work out so well.
- He won’t go for that.
- It might have just the opposite from the intended effect.
- The effort could boomerang on our heads.
- He might not take it the right way.
- You’ve got to be kidding!
- It’s not worth it.
Being told you should convince the company president to change policy
Out-negative / Push away url
I don’t want to do it
- That’s the last thing I want.
- I’m not crazy about it.
- I’m not in the mood.
- No thank you.
- Thanks but no thanks.
- That gives me the creeps.
- I wouldn’t do that for all the money in the world.
- For me it’s just a big turnoff.
- Do your own dirty work.
- That’s not my problem.
- That’s not my cup of tea.
- I’m not going to stoop so low as to do something like that.
- That’s of no concern to me.
- It doesn’t float my boat.
- I don’t feel like it.
I don’t want to do it
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Getting a doctor’s appointment in 3 months
- Its better late than never.
- All in good time.
- Does it really make such a difference?
- It really doesn’t matter.
- It’ll happen before we know it.
- All things happen to those who wait.
Getting a doctor’s appointment in 3 months
Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a friend going on a much needed vacation
- It will do you a world of good.
- It’s for your own good.
- You’ll feel like a new man.
- You’re more full of vim and vigor than most people half you age.
- It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.
- It's a step in the right direction.
To a friend going on a much needed vacation
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss
- There’s nothing to be afraid of.
- You have nothing to worry about.
- Don’t sell yourself short.
- What’s holding you back?
- What could go wrong?
- Your fears are your worst enemy.
- I'm sure they're going to appreciate your trying.
- You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
- At the very worst, they won't use your idea, but it’s certainly not going to hurt anything.
- What's the downside?
- Grab the brass ring.
- Maybe they’ll take you up on it.
- What’s the worst case scenario?
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- No pain, no gain.
- Speak up and make yourself heard.
- You don’t have to sell yourself to me, screw up your courage and say what you have to say to the powers that be.
- Just remind yourself that speaking up is not a bad choice, mind you.
- Don’t worry, they’ll understand.
- They’re on the up and up, and they’re not going to pull any punches.
- You need to stand up for yourself.
- I think you should jump at the opportunity.
- It never hurts to ask.
For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss
Out-neutral / Advice url
When someone is trying to pick a fight with you.
- Leave it alone.
- Don’t make an issue of it.
- You don’t have to answer every dog that barks.
- If you don’t let it drop, it’s going to escalate.
- Just because someone throws down the gauntlet, doesn’t mean you have to pick it up.
- Leave it well enough alone.
- Just ignore it.
- Don’t pay it any mind.
- Let it be.
- I can assure you, nothing good is going to come from this.
- Two wrongs don't make a right.
- Just walk away, and pretend that it never happened.
- You should know better than that.
- Sometimes it's better to say nothing at all in response.
- If you don't respond, it will all just blow over as if nothing happened.
- One word can lead to another, until it's a fire that's hard to put out.
- Don't make an issue out of it.
- I've seen it happen countless number of times before, and it always has the same bad, stupid ending.
- The sad thing about it, is that it's so preventable.
- Take a deep breath, don't respond, and walk away.
- Discretion is the better part of valor.
- These things lead to no good.
- Don’t get sucked into the game their playing.
- Nothing good is going to come from this.
- It always has the same bad ending, so nip it in the bud.
- A wise person thinks twice, before saying nothing.
When someone is trying to pick a fight with you.
Out-positive / Thanks url
After the secretary says she managed to squeeze in an appointment with the doctor
- I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
- I appreciate it beyond words.
- Thanks a million.
- I really appreciate it.
- I owe you one.
- That was above and beyond the call of duty.
- I appreciate all that you’ve done, and all the effort that you put into it.
- You did me a big favor.
- Awesome.
- I’m very appreciative, I don’t take it for granted at all.
After the secretary says she managed to squeeze in an appointment with the doctor
In-negative / Desperation url
Losing a job
- I can’t tell you how awful it is.
- I’m going to lose my mind.
- After what I’ve been through, I don’t know which way is up.
- It’s a lost cause.
- It’s a no win situation.
- It’s all downhill from here.
- It’s a sad state of affairs.
- It feels like things are spinning out of control.
- This is driving me up a wall.
- I’m at loose ends.
- It all seems like a bad dream.
- I feel like I’m on the ropes.
- I think I’m going to throw in the towel.
- After I try my best, and I find a lot of good that does.
- Where can I turn to?
- It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Losing a job