In-positive / Determination url
Student work on a term-paper
- This deserves my total focus and undivided attention.
- I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it and feel more familiar with the whole topic.
- I’ll get it done in no time at all.
- I’m going to hit the ground running.
- The task I faced was difficult, but I rose to the challenge.
- We’re wrapping it up.
- There’s no time like the present.
- Stay the course.
- I really have my work cut out for me.
Student work on a term-paper
Out-neutral / Advice url
Let it go
- Don’t prolong the agony.
- Get your mind off the subject.
- Let yourself go.
- Let it all hang out.
- Don’t dwell on it.
- Go with the flow.
- Let it flow freely.
- Put it all behind you.
- The best thing is to roll with the punches.
- A watched pot never boils.
Let it go
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
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-neutral / Advice url
Protect yourself
- My advice to you is just try to save your own skin.
- Look out for number one.
- Don’t do this to yourself.
- Run for your life.
- Your luck can’t hold out forever.
- If you don’t watch out for yourself, who will?
- It’s a dog eat dog world, and your first obligation is to protect yourself.
- Make sure you take your medicine religiously.
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
- Don’t let them stab you in the back.
Protect yourself
Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a student who just solved a difficult math problem
- That’s a brilliant deduction.
- You’re as smart as a whip.
- You’re really catching on.
- That’s a step in the right direction.
- You’ve got that down pat.
- Nobody can do it better.
- You should be proud of yourself.
- You’re a pretty smart cookie.
- I’ll be happy/glad to write a letter of recommendation for you.
To a student who just solved a difficult math problem
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are lying-1
- You’re lying through your teeth.
- You’re as phony as a two dollar bill.
- Don’t start with that whole song and dance.
- You’re full of hot air.
- Just cut the bull.
- Don’t hand me that baloney.
- It’s a pack of lies.
- You speak with fork tongue.
- I have a sneaking suspicion that you’re withholding from me a very important piece of information.
- That’s utter nonsense.
- Don’t give me that crap.
- Cut the baloney.
- Oh give me a break, will you?
- I smell a rat.
- Do you expect me to believe that?
- Oh, give me a break!
You are lying-1
Out-positive / Agreement url
Do you agree that people should leave their phones at the desk when eating in a restaurant?
- I think that would improve the situation.
- I think they should give it a try.
- My personal experience bears you out.
- You're right on point.
- I think you’re onto something.
- That goes without saying.
- That’s a good point.
Do you agree that people should leave their phones at the desk when eating in a restaurant?
In-negative / Disappointment url
Getting a speeding ticket
- I have no one to blame but myself.
- I need that like a hole in the head.
- That’s what I was afraid of.
- That’s the last thing I wanted.
- What a shame!
- That’s just my luck.
- It happens to the best of us.
- But I don’t have to like it, do I?
Getting a speeding ticket
Out-neutral / Advice url
Let's help each other
- We're all in this together.
- One for all, and all for one.
- United we stand, divided we fall.
- We will either hang together, or hang separately.
- With teamwork we can accomplish anything.
- We will all benefit if we strive to see each other's point of view.
- We should approach this as a family, with one mind, and one heart.
- One good turn deserves another.
Let's help each other
In-negative / Doubt url
Being told a ‘foolproof’ way to not tell the truth on taxes
- It’s a prescription for disaster.
- What good would that be?
- How would that help?
- I don’t think that’s such a good idea.
- What’s the point?
- It won’t last for long before it blows up.
- Does that make sense to you?
- I doubt that very much.
- True to form, you’re up to your old tricks.
- I should have expected you to come up with a hare-brained idea like that.
- Do the ends justify the means?
- No, no, that won’t do at all.
- You’ve got another guess coming.
- The idea just smells, because honesty is the best policy.
- I’m going to look the other way, and pretend I didn’t hear that.
- I imagine you would, but don’t expect me to get caught up in your shenanigans.
Being told a ‘foolproof’ way to not tell the truth on taxes
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