In-negative / Confusion url
Being given a bag of rocks for a present
- I don’t know what to do with it.
- What am I going to do with all this stuff?
- What does this mean?
- What do you mean by this?
- I’m almost afraid to ask.
- Do you mind telling me what this is about?
- Does it make any sense?
- I’m speechless.
- I wonder what that means.
- It doesn’t make any sense at all.
- I don't get it.
Being given a bag of rocks for a present
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
Out-neutral / Advice url
Realistic-1
- Try to be realistic, don’t be fooled by wishful thinking.
- You’re kidding yourself.
- You can only go so far.
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Life’s not fun and games.
- In my opinion, you’re just fooling yourself.
- I’m just suggesting that you should look at your options again, because in the long run, I think you’re setting yourself up for endless let downs.
- Try to see the situation for what it is, because it’s better if you don’t have to learn that the hard way.
- It’s a question you have to ask yourself.
- You have to be realistic.
- You’re living in a fool’s paradise.
- The reason your ideas are not more successful is that they are all half-baked.
- You’re spending money like it was going out of style.
Realistic-1
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Finding that the pet parakeet passed away
- Here today, gone tomorrow.
- It’s a fact of life.
- These things don’t last forever.
- There’s nothing that I can do about it.
- It’s all for the best.
- You know how it is.
- Some good came of it.
- There’s a proper time for everything.
- It’s only natural.
- Nature takes its course.
Finding that the pet parakeet passed away
In-negative / Desperation url
Being charge with tax evasion
- I’m up the creek without a paddle.
- I never thought it would come to this.
- I’ve reached the end of my rope.
- I’ve become a laughing stock.
- I’ve been crazy with worry.
- My back is up against the wall.
- What have I gotten myself into?
- I suspect that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
- I feel like I’m fraying around the edges.
- I feel like I’ve been through the mill.
- What have I gotten myself into?
Being charge with tax evasion
Out-neutral / Advice url
Improve
- Promise to do better.
- It should teach you a lesson.
- Act your age.
- Make a clean break with the past, with your old way of doing things.
- Act like a human being.
- Do what you do, but do it well.
- Don’t be such a nerd.
- Practice makes perfect.
- Stop playing around.
- Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
- Shape up or ship out.
Improve
Out-positive / Agreement url
Don’t you think there’s too much hate in the country between people?
- I feel exactly the same way.
- That goes without saying.
- Everybody knows that!
- I think you hit the nail right on the head.
- You very well may be right.
- You can say that again!
- That's as plain as the nose on your face.
- That's for sure.
- I couldn't have said it better myself.
- I know exactly how you feel.
Don’t you think there’s too much hate in the country between people?
Out-negative / Anger url
Stop what you are doing-2
- Are you trying to start up with me?
- You wouldn’t dare.
- Let that be a warning to you.
- There’s no excuse for that.
- Who do you think I am?
- Hold your horses.
- Don’t you dare do any such thing.
- Haven’t you done enough harm already?
- Don’t make a scene.
- Let’s drop the subject!
- Wait just a cotton picking minute.
- Where do you think you’re going?
- You just can’t help yourself, can you?
- Enough of that.
- OK, enough of this for now.
Stop what you are doing-2
In-positive / Confidence url
Talking to parents after getting accepted in a top school
- I’m going to make you proud.
- You only get out of life what you put into it.
- When I want something I go for it.
- When I put my mind to it I can do anything!
- I’m going to make big bucks.
- I’m proud of myself.
- I'm way ahead of the game.
Talking to parents after getting accepted in a top school
In-negative / Confusion url
In the middle of riot
- What the hell is going on around here?
- I just don’t get it.
- It’s a free for all.
- What’s it all about?
- I just don’t know what to make of it.
- Things are happening fast and furious.
- We better high tail it out of here.
- I’ve never seen anything like this.
- What in the world is going on?
In the middle of riot
Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a friend who just scored the winning shot of a basketball game
- I think you’ve been doing your homework.
- You’ve done it again.
- You saved the day.
- I’ve really got to hand it to you.
- That’s my man.
- You’ve got the magic touch.
- It’s your lucky day.
- Your timing was perfect.
- The opportunity landed in your lap, and you made the most of it.
- Way to go!
- Attaboy!
To a friend who just scored the winning shot of a basketball game
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are wrong-2
- This is highway robbery.
- I think you owe me an apology.
- I think what you are doing stinks.
- You’ve got it backwards.
- You’ve got some nerve.
- How could you even think of doing this?
- There’s no excuse for it.
- That was uncalled for.
- I ought to pity you.
- That was uncalled for!
- You don’t know what you’re talking about.
You are wrong-2