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
Out-neutral / Advice url
Hope
- Life is worth living.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
- Tomorrow is another day.
- Better luck next time.
- Look on the bright side.
- Count your blessings.
- Appreciate it while it lasts.
- Little things mean a lot.
- Things often have a way of just working themselves out.
Hope
Out-neutral / Observation url
About Others – Neutral-2
- She’s covered from head to toe.
- You can’t begrudge him for it.
- She won’t take no for an answer.
- I can’t say I blame him.
- You don’t hold a candle to her.
- He’ll do it if he knows what’s good for him.
- He really did it this time.
- This isn’t like them.
- They’re as different as night and day.
- They haven’t exactly been beating down my door.
- It’s raining cats and dogs.
About Others – Neutral-2
In-neutral / Acceptance url
After an operation
- It’s just going to take time.
- I’m feeling as well as can be expected given the circumstances.
- I think for a while I’ll just have to get used to living with it hanging over my head.
- I’ll take each day as it comes.
- I wouldn’t have it any other way.
- It is what it is.
- I can’t complain.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
- It takes some getting used to.
- At first after the operation, I felt achy all over, but I recovered bit by bit, day by day, slowly but surely.
- It could have been a whole lot worse.
- Life has its challenges.
After an operation
In-positive / Confidence url
Traveling by car to a new destination
- It’s a hop, skip, and a jump away from here.
- It’s not that far as the crow flies.
- So far, so good.
- It’s clear sailing from here on in.
- It’s going to be smooth sailing from here on in.
- What could possibly go wrong?
- Now I wouldn’t let anything bad happen, would I?
- I know what I’m doing.
- I'm going to wing it.
Traveling by car to a new destination
In-negative / Doubt url
Neighbors of the Wright Brothers
- I’ll believe it when I see it.
- Are you really sure?
- Personally, I don’t think you stand a chance.
- The odds are stacked against you.
- I don’t think anything will ever come of it.
- Are your out of your mind?
- Are you serious?
- Are you crazy?
- You must be drunk.
- Are you kidding?
Neighbors of the Wright Brothers
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
Out-negative / Anger url
I will stop you-2
- Wait till I get my hands on you.
- See you in court.
- I’m going to put your lights out.
- I won’t let you.
- I’m putting you on notice.
- You just wait and see.
- Over my dead body.
- I won’t stand for it.
- I’m not going to take any guff from you.
- I’m not going to let you get away with that.
I will stop you-2
In-positive / Realizing url
Finding out 'who did it' at the end of a mystery novel
- I could see it right from the beginning.
- I suspected as much.
- It finally dawned on me.
- That explains everything!
- That’s it, in a nutshell.
- It was the missing link.
- Just put two and two together, and it all makes sense.
- I saw it coming, because though it didn’t seem so at first, in retrospect it was a dead give away.
- It will do it to you every time.
- It was on the tip of my tongue all along.
- That never would have occurred to me.
- I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me.
Finding out 'who did it' at the end of a mystery novel
Out-neutral / Advice url
Accept it-1
- Come to terms with it.
- You can’t always get what you want.
- I don’t think you have a choice.
- You’d better get used to it.
- It’s a change for the best.
- You can’t make it last forever.
- Put it in the past.
- You did it of your own free will.
- It’s out of your hands now.
- Let’s face it.
- You have to put up with it.
- You got off lucky this time.
- No use crying over spilled milk.
- You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
- Different strokes for different folks.
- The message is direct, clear, and in your face.
- You made your bed, now lie in it.
- Life has its twists and turns.
Accept it-1
In-negative / Doubt url
To chemist who blew up the lab
- You’re supposed to know these things.
- What have you done?
- How could you do that?
- I can’t believe it.
- You certainly have had a streak of bad luck.
- I didn’t think that was going to happen.
- What were you trying to do?
- Well what did you expect?
- Is that the best you can do?
- Maybe you should choose a different line of work.
- I don’t think anyone expected this result.
- The less said about it the better.
- What have you gotten yourself into?
To chemist who blew up the lab
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