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-neutral / Observation url
About Others – Neutral-3
- She talks a mile a minute.
- She’s got a vivid imagination.
- She didn’t even bat an eye.
- She’s going through a phase.
- She wears the pants in the family.
- They need all the help they can get.
- They’re really living high on the hog, but I suspect that it’s beyond their means.
- He’s got to work this out for himself.
- She’ll show her true colors.
- She’ll change her tune.
- I didn’t see neither hide nor hair of him since it happened.
About Others – Neutral-3
Out-positive / Friendship url
Stating friendship-1
- I consider you my friend.
- You’re my best friend.
- That’s what friends are for.
- I’m fond of you.
- I think the world of you.
- We work well together.
- You’re a sight for sore eyes.
- We understand each other perfectly.
- I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be with.
- I regard you as a good friend.
- I trust you like a brother.
- You’re the best thing in my whole life.
Stating friendship-1
Out-positive / Concern url
After a friend just found out he’s been fired from his job
- My heart goes out to you.
- Tomorrow is another day.
- There’s always hope.
- Things are tough all over.
- I’m sorry to hear that.
- That’s a crying shame.
- I know what this means to you.
- I’m sure you’ll recover from this, slowly but surely.
- Who knows, perhaps in the long run this could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
- You look down in the dumps.
- I don’t envy you.
After a friend just found out he’s been fired from his job
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
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
Out-positive / Friendship url
Secretive
- I told you all I can tell you.
- You can trust me, I won’t breathe a word about it to anyone, and it won’t go beyond here.
- Remember, not a word about this to anyone.
- I won’t tell a soul.
- A little birdie told me.
- That’s just between us.
- I’ll let you in on a secret.
- Keep it to yourself.
- Your secret is safe with me.
Secretive
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
We don’t agree
- Let’s call the whole thing off.
- We don’t see things eye to eye.
- Let’s just drop the whole thing.
- This is not going anywhere.
- It takes two to tangle.
- We don’t seem to be getting anywhere.
- My patience has worn thin.
- Just you wait and see.
- We’re just wasting our time.
- This is an exercise in futility.
- I’m not going to waste any more time talking to you about this.
- We come from two completely different worlds.
- I’ll pass on the offer, and take a rain check.
- I’m not sure if we’re seeing eye to eye about this.
- We’re talking at cross purposes.
- This is highway robbery!
We don’t agree
In-neutral / Caution url
A publisher given a story that might be libelous
- I just can’t chance it.
- I’m going to treat it with kid gloves.
- It could blow sky high.
- Let’s not rush into things.
- I may be sitting on a time bomb.
- One option is for is for me to just wait it out.
- I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
- It’s best if I wait until the whole thing blows over.
- I just don’t feel like bucking the system.
- I’m inclined to just tiptoe around the whole situation.
- I think if I got involved in any way I would be playing with fire.
- My gut feeling is that I should just leave it well enough alone.
- The fact that no one else wants to do it is not a good sign.
- I don't know the person involved from a hole in the wall, and I think I should regard that as a warning signal.
A publisher given a story that might be libelous
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
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss
- There’s nothing to be afraid of.
- You have nothing to worry about.
- Don’t sell yourself short.
- What’s holding you back?
- What could go wrong?
- Your fears are your worst enemy.
- I'm sure they're going to appreciate your trying.
- You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
- At the very worst, they won't use your idea, but it’s certainly not going to hurt anything.
- What's the downside?
- Grab the brass ring.
- Maybe they’ll take you up on it.
- What’s the worst case scenario?
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- No pain, no gain.
- Speak up and make yourself heard.
- You don’t have to sell yourself to me, screw up your courage and say what you have to say to the powers that be.
- Just remind yourself that speaking up is not a bad choice, mind you.
- Don’t worry, they’ll understand.
- They’re on the up and up, and they’re not going to pull any punches.
- You need to stand up for yourself.
- I think you should jump at the opportunity.
- It never hurts to ask.
For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are hurting me
- You used me.
- You’re treating me like I’m low man on the totem pole.
- You’re causing me great pain.
- I don’t like to be played for a sucker.
- You make my life miserable.
- You’re a thorn in my side.
- Don’t give me the cold shoulder.
- This is beginning to wear on me.
- You make me feel like two cents.
- Don’t brush me off.
- Don’t patronize me.
- Don’t push your luck.
- You’re such a pain in the neck.
- That hit me below the belt.
- What am I, chopped liver?
- Stop nickel and diming me.
- That’s what really burns me up.
You are hurting me