In-negative / Desperation url
Running away from the Cossacks
- I’m knee deep in alligators.
- I’ve got to get a handle on the situation before it’s too late.
- The people around me are dropping like flies.
- I’m going out of my mind.
- It’s a matter of life and death.
- I’m overcome with fear.
- I just can’t deal with it anymore.
- What going on here?
- I just can’t put up with it any longer.
- It’s every man for himself.
- What else have I got?
Running away from the Cossacks
Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a fellow worker who was scolded for being late too often
- Between you and me, I think you got off pretty easy this time.
- You put up a good front.
- You and I know that you can do better than that.
- That’s to be expected.
- I’d say you got off easy.
- It’s not earth shattering.
- What did you expect?
- You need to stand up for yourself.
- It happens to the best of us.
- You and I know that you can do better than that.
To a fellow worker who was scolded for being late too often
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a son who is having difficulty learning how to read
- You’re beginning to catch on.
- Slowly but surely.
- Stay focused, keep your eye on the ball, and don’t let your mind wander.
- All things take time and effort, that’s to be expected.
- With a bit of work and luck, it will all work out fine in the end.
- You’ll look back on this and smile that you ever doubted your own ability to succeed.
- I know what it’s like because I went though a similar situation when I was your age.
- It’s really coming along.
- You’re really getting the hang of it.
For a son who is having difficulty learning how to read
In-positive / Realizing url
Finding out 'who did it' at the end of a mystery novel
- I could see it right from the beginning.
- I suspected as much.
- It finally dawned on me.
- That explains everything!
- That’s it, in a nutshell.
- It was the missing link.
- Just put two and two together, and it all makes sense.
- I saw it coming, because though it didn’t seem so at first, in retrospect it was a dead give away.
- It will do it to you every time.
- It was on the tip of my tongue all along.
- That never would have occurred to me.
- I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me.
Finding out 'who did it' at the end of a mystery novel
Out-positive / Agreement url
I think they should play more classical music on the local radio station
- That would be a step in the right direction.
- That seems like a reasonable idea.
- That’s exactly in line with my thinking.
- That’s a great idea.
- You took the words right out of my mouth.
- I think they should give it a try.
- I’d like that.
I think they should play more classical music on the local radio station
Out-positive / Agreement url
I think the company should match our charity contributions.
- That’s a sensible idea.
- You have a good point there.
- You sold me.
- I think that makes a lot of sense.
- It makes sense to me.
- I see what you’re driving at.
- Sounds good to me.
I think the company should match our charity contributions.
In-negative / Disappointment url
Dropping out of Law School
- I didn’t accomplish as much as I thought I would.
- So far I haven’t seen much progress.
- I’m batting zero.
- It’s nobody’s fault but my own.
- It’s not going anywhere, so why continue?
- I’m dropping out before it gets any worse.
- With my track record, I don’t think I have much of a choice.
- I’m a bit disappointed in my performance.
- I fully expected that I could have done better than I did.
- I just wasn’t good enough.
- It was just beyond my reach.
- It’s been an unmitigated disaster.
Dropping out of Law School
In-positive / Amazed url
General Amazement Situations
- I can’t believe how hot it is.
- Where is everybody?
- My goodness!
- Now that’s a good question.
- That must have cost you a pretty penny.
- He’s growing like a weed.
- The phone’s been ringing off the hook.
- Have I got a story to tell you!
- You don’t know the half of it.
- You’d never guess in a million years.
- It’s like he has eyes in the back of his head.
- Look at it come down, it’s raining cats and dogs.
- I can’t believe how cold it is.
- It boggles the mind just to imagine the possibilities.
- He’s the spitting image of him.
- What's your secret sauce?
General Amazement Situations
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
I find your viewpoint hard to understand-2
- The two things are as different as night and day.
- What are you getting at?
- You’re making a mountain out of a mole hill.
- I’ve heard that line before.
- Give me a straight answer.
- I think you’re being too narrow minded.
- Do you realize what you’re saying?
- I can’t figure you out.
- How do you explain that?
- Oh yes, didn’t you know that?
- Ah, come on now, you must be kidding.
- Now what do you mean by that?
- Why would I want to do something like that?
- I have bigger fish to fry.
I find your viewpoint hard to understand-2
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who won the race for State Senator against a more popular candidate
- You came out smelling like a rose.
- I don’t know how you pulled this one off, but I’m impressed.
- You sure have come a long way.
- You handled it like a pro.
- You’re one of a kind.
- We’ve been behind you all the way.
- Your speech was spoken like a true diplomat.
- Apparently you made quite an impression.
For a friend who won the race for State Senator against a more popular candidate
Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a quarterback at half-time with the score tied
- Knock ‘em dead.
- Give it all you’ve got!
- It’s a great start.
- It’s your moment of truth.
- Don’t give out on us now.
- The sky’s the limit.
- We’re confident that if you break through, you’ll be in the clear.
To a quarterback at half-time with the score tied
In-positive / Confidence url
Given a new assignment at work
- I should have no trouble accomplishing the task.
- This will be one more feather in my cap.
- I know everything there is to know about it.
- It’s a piece of cake.
- Consider it done.
- I’ve done it once, and I can do it again.
- That’ll be no problem whatsoever.
- I can knock that off in no time flat.
- I can get through this in no time at all.
- I know where it’s at.
- Now we're getting into a whole new territory.
- That’s very do-able.
- That will be carried out to the letter.
- That’s as easy as pie.
- I’m going to get it done in two seconds flat.
- My head is still above water.
Given a new assignment at work