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
In-positive / Relief url
Getting a bonus from work to pay off loans
- We nipped it in the bud.
- It happened just in the nick of time.
- That takes a big load off of my mind.
- Thank goodness for little things.
- It’s just what the doctor ordered.
- We were saved just by the skin on our teeth.
- Things will finally get back to normal.
- When I heard the news, I breathed a sigh of relief.
- Our ship has finally come in.
Getting a bonus from work to pay off loans
In-negative / Doubt url
Someone offers you original painting for 1/10th the price
- I suspect that you have something up in your sleeve.
- Give me a break!
- You must be kidding me.
- What’s the catch?
- I’ve heard that song and dance story before.
- Do you mean to tell me that you’re up to your old tricks again?
- Are you trying to pull a fast one?
- That sounds too good to be true.
- What do you take me for?
Someone offers you original painting for 1/10th the price
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Planting a tree
- It’s just a question of time.
- We’ll see results in no time at all.
- All good things take time.
- It’ll come in time.
- It will do for a start.
- That’s all that’s necessary.
- I’ll do my part and let nature take its course.
- Before you know it.
Planting a tree
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Being bypassed for a promotion
- That’s life in the fast lane.
- What’s done is done.
- I guess it’s the way it had to be.
- Maybe it’s all for the best.
- It doesn’t really matter one way or another.
- That’s the way people are.
- It’s not that important.
- I’m humbled.
- Go right ahead, I don’t mind.
- We should just learn from our mistakes.
- You’re the boss.
- Let’s chalk it up to experience.
Being bypassed for a promotion
Out-negative / Annoyed url
Don’t act innocent
- Don’t get cute.
- Don’t give me that look.
- Stop clowning around.
- Stop looking so smug.
- Laugh if you like.
- Don’t toy with me.
- Don’t play dumb with me.
- Oh it’s little miss goody two shoes.
- Wipe that smirk off your face.
- Don’t be a wise guy.
- Don’t you think that’s a bit much?
Don’t act innocent
In-negative / Explaining url
Feeling depressed
- Things have gotten completely out of control.
- I’m not feeling well now, but hopefully I’ll feel a lot better in the near future.
- I’ve been better.
- I have to figure it out for myself.
- You’re catching me at a bad time.
- I’m having a tough time.
- Recently I’ve been bouncing around like a yo-yo.
- I’ve had my ups and downs.
- I'm not myself.
- I have a lot on my mind.
- I never said it was going to be any different from the way it turned out.
- I never saw myself that way before.
- I feel like a bundle of nerves.
- I feel like a bump on a log.
- If you only knew what I’ve been through.
- I’ve been feeling under the weather.
- What I've been through has really knocked the stuffing out of me.
- Whenever I’m nervous, I tend to clam up.
- After a while, I just ran out of steam.
Feeling depressed
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Losing a bet at the casino
- Them’s the breaks.
- I’ll make the best of it.
- Eventually I’m going to have to face the music.
- I’ve learned my lesson.
- That just goes to show you.
- I should have seen that coming a mile away.
Losing a bet at the casino
Out-positive / Concern url
Visiting a friend who is recovering from an operation
- I hope you’re feeling better.
- Can I get you something?
- You look a little better than before.
- Now, that wasn’t so painful, was it?
- I’m glad to see that you’re up and about.
- How are you doing?
- I was sick with worry.
- Would you like something?
- Put your mind at ease.
- I was worried sick about it.
- Coming to visit was the least I could do.
- Thank goodness the body has a way of healing itself.
- If there’s anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.
- You have my blessings.
- Is everything OK?
Visiting a friend who is recovering from an operation
In-negative / Doubt url
A skeptical Investor questioning an entrepreneur about startup
- When you get right down to it, it seems that there’s more going on than meets the eye.
- How can you be so sure of that?
- That raises yet another question.
- That’s the 64,000 dollar question.
- If you re-examine the whole situation, you’ll find that’s not the case at all.
- There’s more to it than meets the eye.
- You don’t have a shred of evidence.
- You don’t know what you’re saying.
- You never know how it’s going to turn out.
- I have no idea what you’re talking about.
- It leaves a lot to be desired.
- What you are describing sounds like a pipe-dream.
- What are you trying to accomplish?
- After what you’ve told me, I’m more skeptical than ever.
- That’s just the other side of the same coin.
- The bottom line is that, as far as I'm concerned, when it comes to knowing if it's a good decision or not, the jury is still out.
- You can take it any way you like.
A skeptical Investor questioning an entrepreneur about startup
Out-positive / Agreement url
Can I have your second scoop of ice cream?
- The rest is more than enough for me.
- No problem.
- I don’t mind at all.
- That’s fine by me.
- It’s my pleasure.
- Be my guest.
Can I have your second scoop of ice cream?
In-neutral / Caution url
Telling someone a secret
- The less said about it the better.
- Don’t breathe a word of it.
- I was sworn to secrecy.
- Mum’s the word.
- This could be something that I might come to regret.
- This might be against my better judgement.
- I have to ask myself, why am I doing this?
Telling someone a secret