Out-neutral / Negotiating url
I see your point of view
- I understand your position.
- I got the point.
- You’ve made your point.
- You started me thinking.
- That’s a point well taken.
- You have a point.
- I must say, that is very tempting.
- That sounds like a reasonable alternative.
- OK, sounds like a plan.
- I must admit that what you are saying has the ring of truth.
I see your point of view
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Taking bad tasting medicine
- It all goes into the same stomach.
- Life’s not a bowl of cherries.
- Is that so terrible?
- It could be worse.
- It’s not all that bad.
- You have to take the good with the bad.
Taking bad tasting medicine
Out-neutral / Advice url
Priorities
- First things first.
- Don’t put the cart before the horse.
- Just stick to business.
- Don’t waste your time.
- I think you’re cutting off your nose to spite your face.
- Put your best foot forward.
- Don’t let yourself get sidetracked.
Priorities
In-positive / Confidence url
To a child going in for an operation
- It’ll be over before you know it.
- It’s all going to work out.
- It’s going to be alright.
- It’ll happen before you know it.
- We’ll pull you through it fine.
- It should be smooth sailing ahead.
- We’re in the best of hands.
- You don’t have to worry about a thing.
- You’ll be very well taken care of.
To a child going in for an operation
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-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-negative / Desperation url
Can’t pay the mortgage
- Things have gotten totally out of hand.
- I’m having trouble making ends meet.
- What am I going to do?
- Sometimes I feel that it's all going to be downhill from here.
- I hope I haven’t blown it.
- Nowadays, it’s hard to make ends meet.
- I’m hanging by a thread.
- If this goes on I’m going to lose my mind.
- I was up all night worrying about it.
- I feel down and out.
- Sometimes I tell myself, ‘Don’t even bother’.
- When I hope that things will get better, I realize: don’t hold your breath.
- I feel like I’m beating a dead horse.
Can’t pay the mortgage
In-neutral / Caution url
Thinking of taking a high interest loan
- What am I getting myself into this time?
- I hope that this is not something that I will live to regret.
- I have to ask myself, is it worth it?
- If I’m mistaken, things could all come tumbling down.
- I should know better than that.
- There’s got to be an easier way.
- Don’t do anything precipitously that you can’t easily undo.
- I could end up in trouble up to my ears.
- I shouldn’t get myself involved with something that I can’t get out of.
- Let’s cool our heels, and be patient and wait to see what happens.
- I should have realized from the very beginning that it’s important not to spend a lot more than you earn if you don’t want to end up being saddled with a lot of debt - and now it doesn't look as if I have any good options to choose from.
Thinking of taking a high interest loan
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
Out-positive / Agreement url
What do you say about my leaving the steak in the oven another 5 minutes?
- That’s just the way I like it.
- That sounds reasonable.
- That sounds like a good idea to me.
- Whatever you say is fine with me.
- That would really hit the spot.
- That would do me just fine.
- That’s exactly what I had in mind.
- Don’t even give it a second thought.
- Have it your way.
What do you say about my leaving the steak in the oven another 5 minutes?
Out-positive / Agreement url
Feeling more self confident makes a person into a better salesman.
- You’re so right.
- Don’t I know!
- That’s a good point.
- I’ll vouch for that.
- That might have something to do with it.
- It certainly seems that way.
- I know what you’re trying to say.
- That’s as plain as day.
- I’ll go along with that.
- That could very well be.
Feeling more self confident makes a person into a better salesman.
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