In-neutral / Acceptance url
Starting the marathon race
- I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.
- You know anything’s possible.
- Times they are a changing.
- I’ll just deal with it the best I can.
- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Starting the marathon race
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
Let’s make peace-2
- Let’s be reasonable.
- Don’t rule it out.
- Let’s not get started on the wrong foot.
- Is that OK with you?
- Nobody is holding a gun to your head.
- Let’s be open with each other.
- There’s no hard feelings between us, OK?
- I’ll make it up to you.
- See, that wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
- I’ve had a change of heart.
Let’s make peace-2
Out-positive / Concern url
After a friend has just been robbed
- Are you alright?
- Get a hold of yourself.
- It’s not the end of the world.
- You can’t blame yourself.
- You’re shaking like a leaf.
- You’re as white as a ghost.
- It’s not your day.
- You’re as stiff as a board.
- It’s not something you could have been prepared for.
- It totally came out of the blue and took you completely by surprised.
- Day by day, this is something that you will gradually recover from.
- Take it from me, in a little while this will recede into the background of everything else in your life.
- I find your story absolutely heartbreaking.
After a friend has just been robbed
Out-positive / Agreement url
Can I borrow a book, if I give it back within a week?
- By all means.
- No problem.
- I don’t mind a bit.
- Okie dokie.
- I don’t have any objection.
Can I borrow a book, if I give it back within a week?
Out-negative / Push away url
Leave me alone
- I can’t be bothered.
- I couldn’t care less.
- It’s none of your concern.
- This is not my problem.
- Don’t try to pin this one on me.
- Give me some space.
- I don’t want to hear it anymore.
- I could care less.
- Nobody asked you.
- Don’t give me an ultimatum.
- Who cares anyway?
- Don’t twist my arm.
- Don’t start in on me.
- I think you’d better leave now.
- It’s none of your business.
- I think I've had enough.
Leave me alone
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
In-negative / Doubt url
Being told that a bad investment you made will go back up
- You’re just trying to make me feel better.
- How can you be so sure?
- I think the truth is more complicated than the way you’re making it sound.
- What you’re saying just doesn’t hold water.
- I wouldn’t hold my breath.
- That’ll be the day.
- I don’t believe it for a minute.
- After what already happened, what difference does it make anyway?
- Maybe yes, maybe no.
Being told that a bad investment you made will go back up
Out-neutral / Advice url
Skeptic
- The chances of that happening are pretty close to zero.
- If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you.
- Nothing lasts forever.
- You can’t believe everything you hear.
- I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you.
- It’s not worth it.
- I think you’re expecting something that’s not realistic.
- I don’t think that’s such a good idea.
- Lightning never strikes twice in the same spot.
- That’s not a good idea.
- There’s more to it than meets the eye.
- You can’t judge a book by its cover.
- It’s not what it’s cracked up to be.
- Take it with a grain of salt.
- You have to read between the lines.
Skeptic
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who didn’t get the promotion he wanted
- You’ll be ok.
- If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
- You put up a good front.
- You’ve done all you can.
- It’s not the end of the line.
- You gave it your best shot.
- It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
- Don’t take it personally.
- I’m sure that thing’s will work out in the long run.
- Apparently it just wasn’t meant to be.
- The race doesn’t always go to the swift, but to those who keep on running.
- These things happen to the best of us.
- It happened through no fault of your own.
For a friend who didn’t get the promotion he wanted
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who just got engaged
- This a golden opportunity, in fact an opportunity of a lifetime.
- It’s going to take effort to make it succeed, but there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
- You’re such a fine judge of character.
- You’ve got a lot to look forward to.
- I’m glad it worked out for you.
- Lucky for you.
- This could be the most important thing you ever did in your life.
- Keep the home fires burning.
For a friend who just got engaged
In-negative / Desperation url
Missing the last train
- It’s enough to make me cry.
- I’ve had all I can handle.
- I'm coming apart at the seams.
- I just can’t take it anymore.
- I can hardly stand it.
- It’s driving me crazy.
- That’s the kind of day it’s been.
- I needed that like a hole in the head.
- I shouldn’t have waited till the last minute.
Missing the last train
Out-positive / Agreement url
Would you like to take another laptop similar to the one I gave you last time?
- I’ll give it a try.
- That's certainly fine with me.
- That would be perfect.
- That would be a win-win situation.
- I'd be glad to take it off your hands.
- I’ll take anything you have to offer.
- Of course I wouldn't mind.
- How could I forget how well it worked out last time.
- I’ll be glad to.
- I certainly will.
- You know it.
- If you don't need it, it's like one hand washing the other.
Would you like to take another laptop similar to the one I gave you last time?