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
Out-positive / Agreement url
I think that Bill Jones, who is running for Mayor, will make a better Mayor.
- You could make a case for that.
- I think you might have a point.
- I couldn't agree with you more.
- That makes the two of us.
- That's my sentiments exactly.
- I have a sneaking suspicion that you may be right.
- That's as plain as day.
- I'm with you.
- What you're saying has the ring of truth.
- I’ll take your word for it.
I think that Bill Jones, who is running for Mayor, will make a better Mayor.
In-positive / Surprise url
A friend wins a big prize
- That’s a nice surprise.
- It’s like something out of a movie.
- You’re pulling my leg.
- Now how do you like that?
- I was so surprised when it happened.
- Get a load of this.
- Good heavens!
- Well blow me down.
- So what do you know?
A friend wins a big prize
In-negative / Doubt url
To someone who claims that a swamp is great real estate
- That’s going too far.
- That’s not very likely.
- Don’t make me laugh.
- You’ve got to be kidding.
- Do you really believe that?
- I rather doubt it.
- I don’t believe it for one minute.
- Do you expect me to believe that crap?
- That doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of being successful.
- That’s a hare brained idea.
- It’s the same old run-around.
- I don’t buy it.
- It sounds kind of fishy.
- He’s stretching the truth.
- I wouldn’t put it past you.
- Do you expect me to believe that?
- I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you.
To someone who claims that a swamp is great real estate
In-negative / Doubt url
To a friend who won’t leave the house at 2AM
- Can’t you take a hint?
- Don’t overstay your welcome.
- Sometimes it’s best just to call it a day.
- All good things must come to an end.
- There’s a time for everything.
- Too much of a good thing is not good.
- I can’t wait around all night for you to make up your mind.
- Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.
To a friend who won’t leave the house at 2AM
Out-neutral / Observation url
About Others – Negative-2
- She’s as skinny as a rail.
- She’s as cold as a fish.
- He’s loosing his nerve.
- She’s gone overboard, and I don’t see that there’s any restraint in what she’s doing.
- He’s torn apart inside.
- She’s crying her eyes out.
- She wouldn’t lift a finger.
- I don’t think he’ll be very pleased.
- I feel bad for him.
- He’s really off the wall.
- He’s having trouble making ends meet.
- His stomach’s a bottomless pit.
- He thinks that everything is coming to him.
About Others – Negative-2
Out-positive / Apology url
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise
- I only wish I could have done more.
- I did the best I could.
- I’m sorry, my hands are tied.
- It might not make any sense to you, but that’s what they decided, and I hope you understand.
- I’m sorry that it’s not the answer you hoped for.
- My apologies that it took me longer to get the answer than I thought it would.
- I hope that we’ll be able to give you a better answer next time.
- I’m hoping this is something you can live with for the time being.
- I was told to explain to you that it’s due to circumstances beyond their control.
- 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
In-positive / Determination url
Head of a start-up
- We shall overcome.
- Let’s keep the ball rolling.
- There will be no exceptions.
- Every minute counts.
- Never say die.
- It’s not the mountain ahead that wears you out, but the grain of sand in your shoe.
- Let’s get to work.
- We have to use brute force.
- We can use all the help that we can get.
- It’s important that we do this right, and I don’t want any slip-ups.
- We’ll make it up as we go along.
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- It may be slow going but we’re making headway.
- We should milk it for all its worth.
- To make our strategy work, we have to make sure all our ducks are lined up.
- We're going to make it happen.
- There's nothing we can't do if we put our minds to it.
- We must have confidence in ourselves.
- It's up to us to make sure it happens.
- Let’s milk it for all it’s worth.
- We’re going to hit the ground running.
- In our struggle for success, I think we’ve finally turned the corner.
- Things are falling into place.
Head of a start-up
Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a fellow worker who was scolded for being late too often
- Between you and me, I think you got off pretty easy this time.
- You put up a good front.
- You and I know that you can do better than that.
- That’s to be expected.
- I’d say you got off easy.
- It’s not earth shattering.
- What did you expect?
- You need to stand up for yourself.
- It happens to the best of us.
- You and I know that you can do better than that.
To a fellow worker who was scolded for being late too often
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
Let’s work things out-2
- May I offer a suggestion?
- One hand washes the other.
- That’s why we’re here.
- What do we have to lose?
- One for all and all for one.
- I’m saying this for your ears and your ears only, and I hope it doesn’t go beyond the two of us: mum’s the word.
- No strings attached.
- It’s a two way street.
- That’s no big deal.
- You know very well that I take this very seriously and that I can be trusted to keep under wraps what you just told me in confidence.
- It will all sink in eventually, when this is all behind us.
- We can work it out.
Let’s work things out-2
Out-positive / Agreement url
I think the company should match our charity contributions.
- That’s a sensible idea.
- You have a good point there.
- You sold me.
- I think that makes a lot of sense.
- It makes sense to me.
- I see what you’re driving at.
- Sounds good to me.
I think the company should match our charity contributions.
In-negative / Confusion url
Lost in an unfamiliar city
- This is driving me batty.
- What can I do?
- I don’t know what else to do.
- Where do we go from here?
- I don’t know, what do you want to do?
- I can’t figure it out.
- I’m going to need a while to get my bearings.
- I feel like a fish out of water.
- It’s driving me nuts.
Lost in an unfamiliar city