In-positive / Determination url
Student work on a term-paper
- This deserves my total focus and undivided attention.
- I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it and feel more familiar with the whole topic.
- I’ll get it done in no time at all.
- I’m going to hit the ground running.
- The task I faced was difficult, but I rose to the challenge.
- We’re wrapping it up.
- There’s no time like the present.
- Stay the course.
- I really have my work cut out for me.
Student work on a term-paper
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
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
In-neutral / Caution url
Remembering being lost in the woods
- The memory makes my skin crawl.
- That was a hair raising experience.
- For a while it was touch and go.
- It all came down to the wire.
- I was in trouble up to my ears.
- It was the moment of truth.
- It kind of snuck up on me.
- Just the memory sends a chill up and down my spine.
- There’s a big difference between what I expected and what actually happened.
- There was no easy way out.
- It seemed like an eternity.
- I wasn't counting on it happening the way it did.
- The way it turned out was totally unexpected.
Remembering being lost in the woods
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who won the race for State Senator against a more popular candidate
- You came out smelling like a rose.
- I don’t know how you pulled this one off, but I’m impressed.
- You sure have come a long way.
- You handled it like a pro.
- You’re one of a kind.
- We’ve been behind you all the way.
- Your speech was spoken like a true diplomat.
- Apparently you made quite an impression.
For a friend who won the race for State Senator against a more popular candidate
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Hearing the stock market went down
- I don’t know if it’s of comfort to any of us, but we’re all in the same boat.
- I have no gripe and no regrets, because I went into the situation with my eyes wide open.
- You win some you loose some.
- I can live with that.
- That’s show biz.
- What goes up has to come down.
- Oh, well.
- I saw the handwriting on the wall.
Hearing the stock market went down
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
Out-neutral / Observation url
About Others – Negative-3
- She’s crying her head off.
- She’s a basket case.
- I think he’s gone bananas, and he’s lost some of his marbles.
- He’s stubborn as a mule.
- She’s cold as a cucumber.
- He has no one to blame but himself.
- He’s an old fuddy-duddy.
- It’s bottled up inside of him.
- They’re at each others throats again.
- When he found out he was white as a sheet.
- I think she’s green with envy.
- A fool and his money are soon parted.
- Misery loves company.
About Others – Negative-3
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Buying a car
- I dropped a bundle on it, but I’m glad I bought it.
- The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
- How can I resist?
- I might as well.
- You never get something for nothing.
- It’s growing on me.
- It’s the best that I can do.
Buying a car
Out-positive / Concern url
To a friend who is trying to decide whether to marry their boyfriend
- How do you feel about it?
- So what did you finally decide?
- Are you having second thoughts?
- You’re such a worry-wart.
- You look puzzled.
- You’re a scaredy cat.
- In your investigation, did you come up with anything?
- Perhaps you should consider being a little bit more flexible.
- You can’t be too careful.
- Why are you fighting it?
- Look before you leap.
- He who hesitates is lost.
- Perhaps you shouldn't be too judgmental.
- Have an open mind.
- I have some information, does it ring a bell?
- Don’t let yourself get rushed into it.
- Look before you leap.
To a friend who is trying to decide whether to marry their boyfriend
Out-positive / Friendship url
Stating commitment-2
- I’ll be your Rock of Gibraltar.
- Till death do us part.
- You’re the answer to my dreams.
- You mean the world to me.
- I’d be lost without you.
- What would I do without you?
- There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.
- You’re all that a man/woman could hope for.
- Where have you been all my life?
- I’m mad about you.
- You’re a dream come true.
- You take my breath away.
Stating commitment-2
In-positive / Hope url
Before they announce the winner of the lottery
- I think this is it.
- It’s the chance of a lifetime.
- You know anything’s possible!
- We’re banking on it.
- Even if we don’t win, there’s always next year.
- One could only hope.
- This is the moment that we’ve all been waiting for.
- Maybe it will be different this time.
- Keep your fingers crossed.
- We’re hoping there’s a pot of gold on the other side of the rainbow.
- The price is right.
- I hope and pray that the money will now just start rolling in.
- This could be our ticket to freedom.
- Hope springs eternal.
- I have high hopes for it.
- I have a lot riding on it.
- A big change for the better might be just around the corner.
- It would be the answer to my prayers.
Before they announce the winner of the lottery