Total Phrases- 4535
205 of 402

Out-negative / Anger url

Shut up

  1. Keep your big mouth shut.
  2. Don’t talk behind my back.
  3. Don’t be coarse.
  4. Don’t snap at me.
  5. I don’t like your tone of voice.
  6. Shut your trap.
  7. You have a foul mouth.
  8. Take that back.

Shut up

Out-negative / Anger
206 of 402

In-positive / Determination url

Student work on a term-paper

  1. This deserves my total focus and undivided attention.
  2. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it and feel more familiar with the whole topic.
  3. I’ll get it done in no time at all.
  4. I’m going to hit the ground running.
  5. The task I faced was difficult, but I rose to the challenge.
  6. We’re wrapping it up.
  7. There’s no time like the present.
  8. Stay the course.
  9. I really have my work cut out for me.

Student work on a term-paper

In-positive / Determination
207 of 402

Out-neutral / Advice url

Be open-minded about other people

  1. He’s a cut above.
  2. I’m sure he’d be glad to do what you want.
  3. He has a mind of his own.
  4. She’s a tough cookie, but if you have patience, she’s something worth waiting for.
  5. I must admit, that even though it may not appear that way at first glance, that there’s a certain logic to what he’s saying.
  6. Don’t pass judgement.
  7. Two heads are better than one.
  8. If you can’t beat them, join them.
  9. She’s giving you every chance under the sun.
  10. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it.

Be open-minded about other people

Out-neutral / Advice
208 of 402

Out-positive / Friendship url

After not seeing someone for a while

  1. I was just thinking about you.
  2. We have a lot of catching up to do.
  3. Let’s pick it up where we left off.
  4. Long time no see.
  5. Where have you been hiding yourself, it seems like you dropped off the face of the earth.
  6. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
  7. Welcome back, it’s so good to see you.
  8. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the last time we got together.
  9. It seems like you’ve been gone forever.
  10. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
  11. I missed you.
  12. How have you been doing, stranger?

After not seeing someone for a while

Out-positive / Friendship
209 of 402

Out-positive / Concern url

To a friend whose new job is harder than he expected

  1. How’s this working out for you?
  2. Perhaps you got more than you bargained for.
  3. Your old job is a hard act to follow.
  4. You have to give it time for the dust to settle, to see if it works out.
  5. Things sometimes get worse before they get better.
  6. This is a chance for you to show your mettle.
  7. Rise to the challenge!

To a friend whose new job is harder than he expected

Out-positive / Concern
210 of 402

Out-neutral / Negotiating url

We don’t agree

  1. Let’s call the whole thing off.
  2. We don’t see things eye to eye.
  3. Let’s just drop the whole thing.
  4. This is not going anywhere.
  5. It takes two to tangle.
  6. We don’t seem to be getting anywhere.
  7. My patience has worn thin.
  8. Just you wait and see.
  9. We’re just wasting our time.
  10. This is an exercise in futility.
  11. I’m not going to waste any more time talking to you about this.
  12. We come from two completely different worlds.
  13. I’ll pass on the offer, and take a rain check.
  14. I’m not sure if we’re seeing eye to eye about this.
  15. We’re talking at cross purposes.
  16. This is highway robbery!

We don’t agree

Out-neutral / Negotiating
211 of 402

Out-neutral / Advice url

Flexible

  1. It’s best just to roll with it punches.
  2. Now let’s switch gears.
  3. Don’t get bogged down.
  4. That’s the way to learn how to do things like that.
  5. You’re as young as you feel.
  6. Pick up where you left off.
  7. Variety is the spice of life.
  8. When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do.
  9. Give it another shot.
  10. What have you got to lose?
  11. Let's play it by ear.

Flexible

Out-neutral / Advice
212 of 402

In-positive / Surprise url

Learning that a friend is a thief

  1. I’m shocked to say the least.
  2. I suspected it was true, but I didn’t put 2 and 2 together.
  3. I was so shocked because it happened right out of nowhere.
  4. The truth comes out at last.
  5. I didn’t expect it at all.
  6. I never would have suspected it.
  7. Speaking of the devil.
  8. Good grief.
  9. Ahah, just as I suspected.
  10. What was that all about?
  11. In all my years I never thought I’d live to see the day when you would say something like that.
  12. The cat is out of the bag.
  13. That came from out of left field.
  14. I am shocked beyond belief.

Learning that a friend is a thief

In-positive / Surprise
213 of 402

Out-neutral / Advice url

Look inside yourself

  1. You’re green with envy.
  2. Try to remember the best you can.
  3. Take a good look at yourself.
  4. Don’t hold back what’s on your mind, spit it out, and let me know what you’re thinking.
  5. Your pride got in your way.
  6. Let your inner voice be your guide.
  7. Why would you want to do something like that?

Look inside yourself

Out-neutral / Advice
214 of 402

In-negative / Doubt url

A friend tells you he’s taking drugs

  1. You’re throwing away your life.
  2. Don’t you have a mind of your own?
  3. Please tell me it’s not true.
  4. You just brought it all on yourself.
  5. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
  6. Do you know what you’re doing?
  7. That’s what I call plain old stupidity.
  8. You must be crazy.
  9. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
  10. I don’t seem to be able to get through to you.
  11. What are you trying to prove?
  12. You should have your head examined.
  13. You knew what you where getting yourself into.
  14. What are you trying to say?
  15. Was this your idea?
  16. It’s your own doing.
  17. Just look at you.
  18. Do as you wish, but don’t come crying to me for help when things go downhill.
  19. It’s the same thing over and over again.
  20. I don’t think anything I say will convince you one way or another.
  21. You don’t have anyone to blame but yourself.
  22. That’s the whole point, and I don’t think you’re hearing a word I’m saying.
  23. It seems as if what I’m saying is going in one ear and out the other.
  24. When I talk to you I don’t feel like there’s anybody home.
  25. What have you gotten yourself into?

A friend tells you he’s taking drugs

In-negative / Doubt
215 of 402

Out-positive / Agreement url

It always pays to be totally honest

  1. That certainly seems the best way.
  2. Well, I should hope so.
  3. I can’t help but think so.
  4. That’s a nice thought.
  5. That’s exactly what I mean.
  6. That’s a strategy that’s hard to beat.
  7. It’s just like what you said.
  8. You better believe it!
  9. That’s as true as the fact that the sun will rise in the East tomorrow morning.
  10. You can say that again.
  11. I won’t argue the point.
  12. You might be onto something.

It always pays to be totally honest

Out-positive / Agreement
216 of 402

Out-positive / Agreement url

I followed your advice, and told her that I was sorry, and that ended the argument

  1. That’s just what I said.
  2. That’s what I figured.
  3. I know that only all too well from personal experience.
  4. I knew you’d understand.
  5. That’s more like it.
  6. No harm done.
  7. That was a step in the right direction.
  8. I think that made the most sense.
  9. I’m glad you gave it a try.
  10. That is very cool.
  11. I'm happy that it all worked out for the best.
  12. Been there, done that.

I followed your advice, and told her that I was sorry, and that ended the argument

Out-positive / Agreement