In-neutral / Caution url
Invited to a party the night before an exam
- I’m dead set against it.
- Am I making a big mistake?
- I have a funny feeling that I’ve been through this before.
- All that glitters is not gold.
- I don’t know if I’ll should do this on such short notice.
- I can easily see where this is heading.
- It’s a waste of time.
- I should know better than that.
- Have I taken leave of my senses?
- Is it worth it?
- I’ve learned my lesson before, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t repeat that mistake again.
- That's not for now.
Invited to a party the night before an exam
In-negative / Explaining url
Apartment is a mess
- I can only do what I can do.
- I try not the pay attention to these things.
- What difference does it make anyway?
- There’s a method to the madness.
- I’m getting nowhere fast.
- I’m on a tight schedule, and it just doesn’t leave me time for these things.
- I’m strapped for time.
- You can understand, can’t you?
- In the large scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter, does it?
- I just have a different set of priorities than you do.
- I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
- Out of sight, out of mind.
- At least I know where everything is.
Apartment is a mess
Out-positive / Agreement url
Don’t you think there’s too much hate in the country between people?
- I feel exactly the same way.
- That goes without saying.
- Everybody knows that!
- I think you hit the nail right on the head.
- You very well may be right.
- You can say that again!
- That's as plain as the nose on your face.
- That's for sure.
- I couldn't have said it better myself.
- I know exactly how you feel.
Don’t you think there’s too much hate in the country between people?
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
You’re not negotiating well-2
- Did that ever occur to you?
- I was afraid you’d do that.
- You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.
- Don’t keep harping on it.
- Why did you bring it up in the first place?
- That’s a cop out.
- We’re finally talking about something important, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t change the subject.
- Who asked you?
- That’s the oldest trick in the book.
- You let the cat out of the bag.
- You cried wolf once too often.
- If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
- Come on, spill the beans.
- You act like someone with a chip on his shoulder.
- You can’t pull the wool over my eyes.
- You’re acting like you have a chip on your shoulder.
- You give me no choice but to do what I feel is my obligation to do.
You’re not negotiating well-2
In-positive / Determination url
Someone offered a bribe
- I’ll never do it, no matter what you say.
- Not if I can help it.
- It will never happen again.
- I’m going to put my foot down once and for all.
- I’ve made up my mind that - once and for all - I’m going to put a stop to this.
- I’m not going to let that happen.
- We’ll put a stop to that.
- I won’t hear of it.
- I won’t budge an inch.
Someone offered a bribe
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who’s hesitant about eating an exotic food for the first time
- What are you waiting for?
- Try it, you’ll like it.
- Don’t worry about a thing.
- Put yourself at ease.
- There’s nothing to worry about.
- I assure you whole-heartedly that you won’t regret it.
- You’ll see soon enough that your fears are unfounded.
- It all goes into the same stomach.
- Forewarned is forearmed.
For a friend who’s hesitant about eating an exotic food for the first time
Out-neutral / Advice url
Expand your choices
- Don’t knock it till you try it.
- Reach for the stars.
- Reach for the sky.
- There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
- Give it one more try.
- Don’t snub your nose at it.
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- It depends on what you want to do.
Expand your choices
In-positive / Happiness url
Resting at home on a day off
- It’s nice to be home.
- It’s a nice change of pace.
- There’s no place like home.
- I’ve never felt better in my life.
- I have the best of both worlds.
- There’s nothing quite like it.
- Home sweet home.
- Everything is just swell.
- This is the day we’ve all been waiting for.
Resting at home on a day off
Out-positive / Friendship url
Opening a conversation
- A penny for your thoughts?
- What’s on your mind?
- It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?
- Do you like it here?
- How’s it going?
- Let’s have a little chat.
- Let me know when you are free.
- Let’s not talk shop.
Opening a conversation
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 / Determination url
Person who is depressed
- I decided on the spot, once and for all, that I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.
- I woke up and said, there’s no time like the present.
- I’m not ready to throw in the towel yet.
- I’m determined to resist the temptation.
- This is the first day of the rest of my life.
- I overcame the difficulties confronting me.
- I’ve made my mind up.
- I made a clean break.
- Everything takes time.
- Now I’m more determined than ever!
- There’s always a first time.
- I'm 100% focused on making sure I get myself out of this crazy situation.
Person who is depressed
In-negative / Desperation url
Losing a job
- I can’t tell you how awful it is.
- I’m going to lose my mind.
- After what I’ve been through, I don’t know which way is up.
- It’s a lost cause.
- It’s a no win situation.
- It’s all downhill from here.
- It’s a sad state of affairs.
- It feels like things are spinning out of control.
- This is driving me up a wall.
- I’m at loose ends.
- It all seems like a bad dream.
- I feel like I’m on the ropes.
- I think I’m going to throw in the towel.
- After I try my best, and I find a lot of good that does.
- Where can I turn to?
- It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Losing a job