Total Phrases- 4535
1 of 402

In-negative / Explaining url

Apartment is a mess

  1. I can only do what I can do.
  2. I try not the pay attention to these things.
  3. What difference does it make anyway?
  4. There’s a method to the madness.
  5. I’m getting nowhere fast.
  6. I’m on a tight schedule, and it just doesn’t leave me time for these things.
  7. I’m strapped for time.
  8. You can understand, can’t you?
  9. In the large scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter, does it?
  10. I just have a different set of priorities than you do.
  11. I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
  12. Out of sight, out of mind.
  13. At least I know where everything is.

Apartment is a mess

In-negative / Explaining
2 of 402

Out-positive / Friendship url

Saying hello-1

  1. So what else is new?
  2. So we meet again.
  3. I’m so glad to see you.
  4. What’s up Doc?
  5. Well, isn’t it a small world?
  6. How goes it?
  7. Top of the morning to you.
  8. What a nice surprise!
  9. How’s everything going?
  10. What’s up?
  11. What’s new?
  12. What a pleasant surprise.

Saying hello-1

Out-positive / Friendship
3 of 402

In-negative / Desperation url

Breaking up a long term relationship

  1. I feel torn apart inside.
  2. That’s really depressing.
  3. Things seemed to be going well when all of a sudden our plans fell through.
  4. It’s tearing me apart at the seams.
  5. I’m down in the dumps.
  6. I don’t want to think about it.
  7. I never thought it would ever come to this.
  8. Sometimes I think, Why bother?
  9. Out of the frying pan into the fire.
  10. I feel shattered.
  11. I’m afraid I made it worse.
  12. I made the same mistake again.

Breaking up a long term relationship

In-negative / Desperation
4 of 402

In-negative / Explaining url

Trying to fix work-mate’s computer

  1. I found the problem, but I just need time to fix it.
  2. I’m a little rusty.
  3. I’m working on it.
  4. I've hit a brick wall.
  5. I tried my best, but I guess that just wasn’t good enough.
  6. It doesn’t look like I’m making much headway.
  7. Oh well, it was worth a try.
  8. It may look simple, but it's really complicated.
  9. You can’t blame a fellow for trying.
  10. I’m sorry that it just didn’t work out.
  11. Back to the drawing board.
  12. I got more than I bargained for.
  13. That’s easier said than done.
  14. It was a shot in the dark.
  15. That’s what I could do.
  16. I’m sure you were expecting more from me.
  17. I’m trying my best.
  18. That’s the only thing I can think of.

Trying to fix work-mate’s computer

In-negative / Explaining
5 of 402

Out-positive / Encouragement url

To a friend who is working very hard at a new job

  1. You’ll get your reward in the long run.
  2. Of course it’s above and beyond the call of duty.
  3. It’s very sorely needed, and I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.
  4. It’s for a worthy cause.
  5. When you look back on it, you’ll see that it was all worth it.
  6. It’s not as if you have much of a say in the matter.
  7. That’s a good choice.
  8. That’s a wise decision.
  9. How’s it coming?
  10. You’re a good man.
  11. Do whatever you feel you have to do, whatever you feel is necessary in the situation.

To a friend who is working very hard at a new job

Out-positive / Encouragement
6 of 402

In-positive / Hope url

Looking for a lost dog

  1. I’m sure that something will come up.
  2. Let’s hope for the best.
  3. I certainly hope so.
  4. With a bit of luck perhaps it will all work out fine in the end.
  5. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.
  6. Anything’s possible.
  7. Even if it doesn’t turn out for the best, we’ll eventually recover.
  8. Even in the worst scenario, we’ll be back on our feet in no time at all.
  9. You never know.
  10. There’s always hope.
  11. The darkest time is just before the dawn.
  12. Hopefully we will soon see light at the end of the tunnel.

Looking for a lost dog

In-positive / Hope
7 of 402

In-neutral / Acceptance url

Getting a doctor’s appointment in 3 months

  1. Its better late than never.
  2. All in good time.
  3. Does it really make such a difference?
  4. It really doesn’t matter.
  5. It’ll happen before we know it.
  6. All things happen to those who wait.

Getting a doctor’s appointment in 3 months

In-neutral / Acceptance
8 of 402

Out-positive / Encouragement url

For a friend who just got into a top business school

  1. You sure have come a long way.
  2. I’m not surprised that you succeeded, I always knew you had it in you.
  3. Shoot for the moon, and give it all you’ve got.
  4. You’re as smart as a whip.
  5. There’s no limit to what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it.
  6. What more could you ask for?
  7. With this under your belt, a golden future can be yours.
  8. I have absolute faith in you.
  9. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.
  10. I don’t know how you accomplished so much in such a short period of time.

For a friend who just got into a top business school

Out-positive / Encouragement
9 of 402

Out-negative / Annoyed url

Listen to me-1

  1. Do I have to spell it out for you?
  2. I don’t suppose it ever dawned on you.
  3. You’re as thick as a brick.
  4. It seems that I can’t get through to you.
  5. I hope you get the message.
  6. You better get this straight.
  7. It goes in one ear and out the other.
  8. I’m going to give you a piece of my mind.
  9. You’re barking up the wrong tree.
  10. Don’t waste your breath.
  11. You’ve got to be kidding.

Listen to me-1

Out-negative / Annoyed
10 of 402

Out-positive / Apology url

After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise

  1. I only wish I could have done more.
  2. I did the best I could.
  3. I’m sorry, my hands are tied.
  4. It might not make any sense to you, but that’s what they decided, and I hope you understand.
  5. I’m sorry that it’s not the answer you hoped for.
  6. My apologies that it took me longer to get the answer than I thought it would.
  7. I hope that we’ll be able to give you a better answer next time.
  8. I’m hoping this is something you can live with for the time being.
  9. I was told to explain to you that it’s due to circumstances beyond their control.
  10. Please give us a chance to make it up to you next time.

After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise

Out-positive / Apology
11 of 402

Out-neutral / Negotiating url

Let’s make a deal

  1. Let’s get down to business.
  2. Let’s mend our fences.
  3. Let get down to brass tacks.
  4. We can see eye to eye.
  5. Make me an offer I can’t refuse.
  6. Let’s split the difference.
  7. I’ll take you up on it.
  8. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
  9. Let’s put our heads together and do our best to get to come up with something.
  10. I’ll make it worth your while!
  11. On second thought, maybe I will reconsider your generous offer.
  12. Let’s go through with the deal.

Let’s make a deal

Out-neutral / Negotiating
12 of 402

Out-negative / Anger url

You will regret this

  1. You’ll be sorry.
  2. You can dish it out but you can’t take it.
  3. You’ll pay for this.
  4. You can’t get away with that.
  5. You had it coming to you.
  6. You deserve everything you get.

You will regret this

Out-negative / Anger