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 whose new job is harder than he expected
- How’s this working out for you?
- Perhaps you got more than you bargained for.
- Your old job is a hard act to follow.
- You have to give it time for the dust to settle, to see if it works out.
- Things sometimes get worse before they get better.
- This is a chance for you to show your mettle.
- Rise to the challenge!
To a friend whose new job is harder than he expected
Out-neutral / Advice url
Perseverance
- Don’t give up.
- You can’t give up that easily.
- You can’t back out now.
- Don’t give up yet.
- Don’t give up the ship.
- See it through to the end.
- Hold on tight.
- We’ll stick through thick and thin.
Perseverance
In-negative / Explaining url
Throwing out a bag of laundry by mistake
- How was I supposed to know?
- What did I do this time?
- That never would have occurred to me.
- I wish I had known.
- I had no way of knowing.
- OK, I’m not perfect.
- I apologize profusely.
- It was totally unintentional.
- There’s nothing I can do about it now.
- My humble apologies.
- Sorry about that.
- If I knew what I was doing, I certainly wouldn’t have done it.
- I certainly didn’t do it on purpose.
- They looked so similar that I had no way of knowing.
- It came as a surprise to me.
- I’m awfully sorry.
- How was I supposed to know that?
Throwing out a bag of laundry by mistake
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who is recovering from an illness
- Now that’s more like it.
- I’m glad to see that you’re doing alright.
- Be patient with your recovery.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day.
- You don’t look any worse for wear or tear.
- You’re near and dear to our hearts.
- You’re doing what you can, and that’s all that there is to it.
- The way you’re handing this challenging situation is to your credit.
- It'll be over before you know it.
For a friend who is recovering from an illness
In-negative / Desperation url
Being charge with tax evasion
- I’m up the creek without a paddle.
- I never thought it would come to this.
- I’ve reached the end of my rope.
- I’ve become a laughing stock.
- I’ve been crazy with worry.
- My back is up against the wall.
- What have I gotten myself into?
- I suspect that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
- I feel like I’m fraying around the edges.
- I feel like I’ve been through the mill.
- What have I gotten myself into?
Being charge with tax evasion
Out-positive / Apology url
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise
- I only wish I could have done more.
- I did the best I could.
- I’m sorry, my hands are tied.
- It might not make any sense to you, but that’s what they decided, and I hope you understand.
- I’m sorry that it’s not the answer you hoped for.
- My apologies that it took me longer to get the answer than I thought it would.
- I hope that we’ll be able to give you a better answer next time.
- I’m hoping this is something you can live with for the time being.
- I was told to explain to you that it’s due to circumstances beyond their control.
- Please give us a chance to make it up to you next time.
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise
In-positive / Happiness url
At an amusement park
- I’ve never had so much fun in all my life.
- I love every minute of it.
- I’m having the time of my life.
- I’m a happy as a lark.
- I’m having a smashing good time.
- The joy from the experience will last for a while.
- I feel like jumping for joy.
- I wouldn't have missed this for the world.
- For me, the experience was so fantastic it was off the charts.
- I’m overjoyed.
At an amusement park
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are lying-2
- I find that hard to believe.
- You mean to tell me…?
- There’s something fishy going on here.
- That’s phony baloney.
- You can’t pull the wool over my eyes.
- Come on, spill the beans and tell me the truth.
- You’ve been caught in your own web of lies.
- I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you.
- Now what are you trying to pull?
- Don’t think you can get away with by just sweeping it under the carpet.
- Don’t try to fool me.
- Who are you trying to kid?
- That’s ridiculous.
- You are lying through your teeth.
You are lying-2
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
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
Out-negative / Anger url
I will stop you-1
- This means war.
- I have a bone to pick with you.
- I’ll get even with you, and even though you’re sitting pretty right now, I think in the long run you are going to regret what you did.
- Wait till I get my hands on you.
- I want to have it out with you.
- I’ll pay you back for this.
- Let’s settle this once and for all.
- Don’t mess with me.
- Don’t start up with me.
- If you think you’re going to get away with that, you’ve got another guess coming.
- Don’t you dare play your stupid, silly games with me.
- You’re not going to get away with it.
I will stop you-1