In-neutral / Caution url
A publisher given a story that might be libelous
- I just can’t chance it.
- I’m going to treat it with kid gloves.
- It could blow sky high.
- Let’s not rush into things.
- I may be sitting on a time bomb.
- One option is for is for me to just wait it out.
- I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
- It’s best if I wait until the whole thing blows over.
- I just don’t feel like bucking the system.
- I’m inclined to just tiptoe around the whole situation.
- I think if I got involved in any way I would be playing with fire.
- My gut feeling is that I should just leave it well enough alone.
- The fact that no one else wants to do it is not a good sign.
- I don't know the person involved from a hole in the wall, and I think I should regard that as a warning signal.
A publisher given a story that might be libelous
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
I’m trying to see your viewpoint-3
- That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all day.
- Tell me something I don’t already know.
- I know where you’re at.
- Don’t keep me in the dark.
- What do you mean by that?
- Why do you say that?
- Tell me in layman’s terms.
- How can you say that?
- What do you think about it?
- What makes you say that?
- There’s nothing good you can say about it?
- What does that have to do with it?
- Is that what you’re driving at?
- I don’t know if I’ve answered your question or not.
- I’m bending over backwards to see things your way.
I’m trying to see your viewpoint-3
In-positive / Surprise url
You win the lottery
- The experience was so strange that I felt I was entering into never-never land.
- You could have knocked me over with a feather.
- Oh my gosh!
- It happened just outta the blue.
- It really blew my mind.
- Can you believe it?
- Boy, I’m telling you.
- One thing happened after another, and suddenly I found myself in a position that was totally unexpected.
You win the lottery
In-negative / Confusion url
To someone explaining calculus
- I haven’t the foggiest/slightest/vaguest idea of what you’re talking about.
- I can’t make heads or tails of it.
- I don’t understand.
- Whatever do you mean?
- You’ve got me stumped.
- I don’t know what to make of it.
- It doesn’t make any sense.
- How could that possibly be?
- It’s Greek to me.
To someone explaining calculus
Out-neutral / Advice url
Caution-1
- Look before you leap.
- You’ve got to take it with a grain of salt.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
- Don’t quit your day job.
- I wouldn’t touch that with a ten foot pole.
- It’s going to be harder and take longer than you anticipate.
- That's better left unsaid.
- There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip.
- Take a closer look.
- I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
- Don’t take chances.
- You’re going to be sorry.
- Curiosity killed the cat.
- You should know better than that.
- He’s all bark and no bite.
- Better to be safe than sorry.
- Even though he’s well intentioned, he ends up doing a lot of damage anyway.
- The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
- Let's keep on the safe side.
- That is vastly overrated.
Caution-1
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are wrong-1
- You are sadly mistaken.
- You’re such a drag.
- You are completely out of line.
- That wasn’t called for.
- That’s the pot calling the kettle black.
- That’s going too far.
- Wherever you go trouble follows.
- You’re adding insult to injury.
- You’re dead wrong.
- You’ve got some explaining to do.
- If you think that, you’ve got another guess coming.
- That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard of.
- Don’t make me laugh.
You are wrong-1
In-positive / Confidence url
Shopping for clothes for camp
- You’ll be out of here so fast your head will spin.
- We’re getting our money’s worth.
- That was a productive use of our time.
- I’ve got it all under control.
- I’m going to have to ride shotgun on this task to make sure it gets done.
- Now this certainly seems like a worthwhile endeavor.
Shopping for clothes for camp
Out-positive / Friendship url
Generosity
- Take to your hearts content.
- Whatever is mine is yours.
- My heart is overflowing with a desire to give to you.
- I want you to feel totally comfortable here.
- I want you to regard my house as your home away from home.
- If everything is not totally to your liking, just let me know.
- Allow me to do something for you for a change.
- Share and share alike.
- I’m at your beck and call.
Generosity
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 / Negotiating url
You’re not negotiating well-1
- You’re as stubborn as a mule.
- What I’m saying is going in one ear and out the other.
- How does that help anything?
- Don’t put words in my mouth.
- What more do you want?
- Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
- You have no excuse for acting that way.
- Are you backing out?
- Surely you must be kidding.
- I’ve got you pegged.
- Are you trying to pull the wool over my eyes?
You’re not negotiating well-1
Out-positive / Concern url
To a friend who just lost a lot of their money in the stock market
- I’m sorry it didn’t pan out.
- I think your nest-egg was your security blanket, and now you’ll just have to pick up the pieces and go on from here.
- This puts you in a terrible position.
- I don’t envy you.
- That’s such a shame.
- You look like you’ve seen a ghost.
- You might have to start over from square one.
- You’ll need all the help that you can get.
- After such an experience, it might turn out that you’ll never be the same.
- You shouldn’t have put all your eggs in one basket.
- It’s written all over your face.
- You’re lucky that it wasn’t much worse than it was.
To a friend who just lost a lot of their money in the stock market
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
Let’s work things out-2
- May I offer a suggestion?
- One hand washes the other.
- That’s why we’re here.
- What do we have to lose?
- One for all and all for one.
- I’m saying this for your ears and your ears only, and I hope it doesn’t go beyond the two of us: mum’s the word.
- No strings attached.
- It’s a two way street.
- That’s no big deal.
- You know very well that I take this very seriously and that I can be trusted to keep under wraps what you just told me in confidence.
- It will all sink in eventually, when this is all behind us.
- We can work it out.
Let’s work things out-2