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-negative / Doubt url
Police questioning thief
- Your story doesn’t hold water.
- Can you please run that by me again?
- That’s hard to believe.
- You expect me to believe that?
- There’s something fishy about your story.
- You’re lying through his teeth.
- What you’re tell me just doesn’t wash.
- Do you expect me to believe that cock and bull story?
- That’s nothing new.
- It’s too late for that.
- I think you’ve been up to no good.
- You can talk till you’re blue in the face, I just don’t buy it.
Police questioning thief
In-negative / Explaining url
After investing in worthless land
- I fell for it hook, line and sinker.
- I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
- I should have known.
- It seemed like the right to do thing at the time.
- It took me totally by surprise.
- I was talked into it.
- The thought that this would be such a bad decision never crossed my mind.
- There’s not a whole lot I can do about it at this point.
- That never would have dawned on me.
- I didn’t see it coming.
- In theory that was how it was supposed to play out, but in actuality that’s not what happened.
- How was I supposed to know that?
- It beats me how that could have happened.
- It was an honest mistake.
- It could happen to anyone.
- I’m sorry that things didn’t work out the way I expected them to.
- I found out the hard way.
- The thought never even crossed my mind.
- That was something I wasn’t even aware of.
- Frankly, it’s just not something I could have anticipated.
- That’s something I just didn’t count on.
- They really took me to the cleaners.
- I must admit, from the beginning the whole thing wasn’t clear to me, and went way over my head.
- I was a sitting duck.
- I was being penny wise and pound foolish.
After investing in worthless land
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
Try to negotiate correctly & fairly-2
- Don’t beat around the bush.
- You’re playing hard to get.
- I’m going to hold you to it.
- By the look in your eyes you look as if your mind is a thousand miles away.
- You’re putting words in my mouth.
- Don’t hold it over my head.
- You’re stretching it a bit.
- Is there something you’re not telling me?
- Face up to it.
- Would you slow down, I can’t get a word in edge wise.
Try to negotiate correctly & fairly-2
In-positive / Confidence url
Promise that will be on time
- I give you my word.
- We’re on our way.
- I will, I promise.
- I’ll see to that.
- You can bet on it.
- You have nothing to worry about.
- Take my word for it.
- It’s nothing I can’t handle.
- There’s no question about it.
Promise that will be on time
Out-positive / Concern url
To a friend who hopes to solve their money problems by going to a Casino
- I think you’ve gone just a little bit too far this time.
- What are you doing in a place like this?
- You’re digging a hole for yourself.
- You better watch out.
- This can only spell trouble.
- No good can come from this.
- Maybe I better warn you.
- I wouldn’t hold my breath, if I were you!
- You’re just avoiding/delaying the inevitable.
- You’ve boxed youself into a corner.
To a friend who hopes to solve their money problems by going to a Casino
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
In-negative / Desperation url
Losing a chunk of data from a laptop hard drive
- That will be the straw that breaks the camels back.
- I’ve taken about all that I can take.
- This is driving me so batty that I could scream.
- What rotten luck.
- I give up.
- I can’t bear to face it.
- Why me?
- Don’t even talk to me about it.
- It's not my day.
Losing a chunk of data from a laptop hard drive
Out-neutral / Advice url
Control yourself
- Don’t let it get out of hand.
- Don’t let it go to your head.
- Don’t take it so personally.
- Don’t take the law into your own hands.
- Just try to remember that mum’s the word, and try your best to not let it slip out when you are caught off guard.
- Keep a hold on the situation.
- Don’t boast about it.
- Get a grip on yourself.
- Don’t resort to violence.
- I think one of the problems is that you’ve been bouncing from one extreme to another.
- Don’t air your dirty laundry out in public.
- You’ve got to snap out of it.
- Now get serious, and stop horsing around.
- You have to quit cold turkey.
- Get a hold of yourself.
- Why take a chance?
Control yourself
Out-neutral / Observation url
About Others – Positive-2
- She has a way with words.
- She stands out in a crowd.
- He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
- He’s out of the woods.
- She lights up the room.
- Those two stick together like glue.
- He’s cool, calm and collected.
- It’s a match made in heaven.
- She lends on air of dignity to wherever she goes.
- He’s one slick operation.
- He’s sharp as a tack.
- He’s the greatest.
- He went to bat for us.
- He’s taking it very well.
- He’s as straight as an arrow.
- He’s a mover and a shaker.
About Others – Positive-2
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Admitting a mistake
- It may not be a pretty picture, but at least now it’s all out in the open.
- Everyone’s gotta do what they gotta do.
- What other options do I have?
- We have no choice.
- I decided to stand up like a man and admit it.
- Nobody’s perfect.
- Take it from me, it couldn’t be helped.
- One good deed leads to another.
- It’s better that way.
Admitting a mistake
In-negative / Desperation url
Lost in the forest
- I’ve run out of steam.
- The situation is so grim.
- The situation was so dangerous that I thought it was curtains.
- I’m worried to death.
- I can’t cope with it.
- I’m scared to death.
- Time is running out.
- It’s all a nightmare.
- I’m never going to make it.
- I’m reaching the end of my rope.
- I was up the creek without a paddle.
Lost in the forest