Out-neutral / Advice url
Caution-1
- Look before you leap.
- You’ve got to take it with a grain of salt.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
- Don’t quit your day job.
- I wouldn’t touch that with a ten foot pole.
- It’s going to be harder and take longer than you anticipate.
- That's better left unsaid.
- There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip.
- Take a closer look.
- I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
- Don’t take chances.
- You’re going to be sorry.
- Curiosity killed the cat.
- You should know better than that.
- He’s all bark and no bite.
- Better to be safe than sorry.
- Even though he’s well intentioned, he ends up doing a lot of damage anyway.
- The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
- Let's keep on the safe side.
- That is vastly overrated.
Caution-1
In-negative / Explaining url
Hitting the neighbor's dog with a car
- It took me completely by surprise.
- It came out of the blue.
- It really threw me for a loop.
- I take full responsibility for it.
- The experience has shaken me to the core.
- I had to make a split second decision.
- I had to save my own skin.
- It scared me half to death.
- It really shook me up.
- It’s a very unusual occurrence.
- How do you think I feel?
- Do you think I did it on purpose?
- I don’t know what to say.
- When push comes to shove, it’s not something I could have prevented.
- It was a freak accident.
- It happened in a blink of an eye.
- It sent shivers up my spine.
Hitting the neighbor's dog with a car
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who’s tied in a final set of a tennis match
- That’s the spirit.
- You’ve got it in the palm of your hand.
- You’ve got what it takes.
- You’ve got to come through, we’re all depending on you.
- We’re all rooting for you.
- Take the bull by the horns.
- You can do it.
- The ball is in your court.
- Give it your best shot.
- Give it the old college try.
- We’re all counting on you.
- It’s all up to you.
- Get a move on it, and strike the iron while it’s hot.
- It’s shaping up to be a moment of truth.
- This is your big chance, don’t blow it.
For a friend who’s tied in a final set of a tennis match
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Finding a parking place 5 blocks from the restaurant
- This is a good place as any.
- It’s certainly not what we hoped for, but it’s better than nothing.
- I think we don’t have much of a choice.
- That’s good enough for me.
- That’s to be expected.
- That’s just the way it’s going to have to be then.
Finding a parking place 5 blocks from the restaurant
In-negative / Explaining url
Trying to fix work-mate’s computer
- I found the problem, but I just need time to fix it.
- I’m a little rusty.
- I’m working on it.
- I've hit a brick wall.
- I tried my best, but I guess that just wasn’t good enough.
- It doesn’t look like I’m making much headway.
- Oh well, it was worth a try.
- It may look simple, but it's really complicated.
- You can’t blame a fellow for trying.
- I’m sorry that it just didn’t work out.
- Back to the drawing board.
- I got more than I bargained for.
- That’s easier said than done.
- It was a shot in the dark.
- That’s what I could do.
- I’m sure you were expecting more from me.
- I’m trying my best.
- That’s the only thing I can think of.
Trying to fix work-mate’s computer
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
Opportunity
- It’s a once in a lifetime chance.
- You won’t regret it.
- It’s a golden opportunity.
- Don’t let the opportunity slip through your fingers.
- When opportunity knocks, be ready to open the door.
- Try it, you’ll like it.
- Make the most of it.
- You can’t afford to miss it.
- It’s right up your alley.
- You don’t know what you’re missing.
- It’s a veritable goldmine.
Opportunity
Out-neutral / Advice url
Restraint-2
- Don’t let the cat out of the bag.
- Don’t make matters worse.
- Keep it under your hat.
- Get a hold of yourself.
- Just try not to go overboard doing it, both in terms of time and money.
- Get control of yourself.
- Button your lip.
- Try and get a hold of yourself.
- I know that may feel good to speak your mind and get things off your chest, but sometimes it’s better just to bite your tongue.
Restraint-2
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who is depressed
- I never promised you a rose garden.
- You’re putting up a brave front.
- It can’t be as bad as all that.
- You have to look at the bright side.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself.
- Alright, get it out of your system.
- I know how you feel.
- It’s a step in the right direction.
- I think you can figure this out for yourself.
- With a bit of luck and hard work it will all work out fine in the end.
- You have to look yourself in the eye and ask yourself plain and simple, with all your abilities, what’s holding you back from fulfilling more of your potential?
- It looks worse than it really is.
- Don’t you worry, you will be fine.
- Do the best you can.
- What’s eating you?
- You have your whole life ahead of you.
For a friend who is depressed
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-neutral / Negotiating url
Let’s work things out-1
- Meet me half way.
- Be a good sport.
- I don’t want to cause friction between us.
- No hard feelings, OK?
- Don’t take it personally.
- Let’s get that out of the way.
- That shouldn’t be a problem.
- If that’s what you want.
- If you say so.
- I think that might be in order.
- Let’s call it a truce.
- Let’s agree to disagree.
Let’s work things out-1
In-negative / Doubt url
When a friend says he’s going to climb Mt. Everest
- Fat chance!
- You’re putting me on.
- You can’t be serious.
- Are you kidding me?
- Now I’ve heard everything.
- Are you sure you know what you’re doing?
- It’s a nice idea, but are you sure you’re up to it.
- Are you sure you’ve got what it takes?
When a friend says he’s going to climb Mt. Everest