Out-neutral / Advice url
When someone is trying to pick a fight with you.
- Leave it alone.
- Don’t make an issue of it.
- You don’t have to answer every dog that barks.
- If you don’t let it drop, it’s going to escalate.
- Just because someone throws down the gauntlet, doesn’t mean you have to pick it up.
- Leave it well enough alone.
- Just ignore it.
- Don’t pay it any mind.
- Let it be.
- I can assure you, nothing good is going to come from this.
- Two wrongs don't make a right.
- Just walk away, and pretend that it never happened.
- You should know better than that.
- Sometimes it's better to say nothing at all in response.
- If you don't respond, it will all just blow over as if nothing happened.
- One word can lead to another, until it's a fire that's hard to put out.
- Don't make an issue out of it.
- I've seen it happen countless number of times before, and it always has the same bad, stupid ending.
- The sad thing about it, is that it's so preventable.
- Take a deep breath, don't respond, and walk away.
- Discretion is the better part of valor.
- These things lead to no good.
- Don’t get sucked into the game their playing.
- Nothing good is going to come from this.
- It always has the same bad ending, so nip it in the bud.
- A wise person thinks twice, before saying nothing.
When someone is trying to pick a fight with you.
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Not catching a fish
- Kiss this one goodbye.
- It’s not like I have much of a choice.
- I’ll be darned if I can help it.
- That’s the way it is.
- It’s not that bad.
- There’s not much I can do about it now.
- I’m going to let bygones be bygones.
Not catching a fish
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
This is my viewpoint
- I hope I’m making it crystal clear.
- That just what I said.
- I rest my case.
- I made my point.
- I’ll get right to the point.
- You know where I stand.
- I meant what I said.
- For whatever it’s worth, here are my 2 cents.
- I really mean it.
- It’s all here in black and white.
- That’s my point exactly.
- Let’s set the record straight.
- If you get my drift.
- I’m well aware of that.
- There’s something you ought to know.
- Of course that’s what I meant.
- You can talk till you’re blue in the face, you still won’t convince me.
- I hate to be blunt.
- There’s no, ifs ands or buts about it.
- I’ll be honest with you.
- Take it or leave it.
- What you see is what you get.
- If you want a deal, you’re going to have to up the ante.
- I’m going to cut to the chase.
- It doesn’t make sense to do it any other way.
- I wanted to run this idea by you.
This is my viewpoint
Out-neutral / Advice url
Don’t worry
- Don’t be a worry-wart.
- Don’t worry about it.
- Put it out of your mind.
- Don’t sit around moping, and get on with your life.
- I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.
- You should look at the bright side of things, and not always be filled with doom and gloom.
- His bark is worse than his bite.
Don’t worry
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Being bypassed for a promotion
- That’s life in the fast lane.
- What’s done is done.
- I guess it’s the way it had to be.
- Maybe it’s all for the best.
- It doesn’t really matter one way or another.
- That’s the way people are.
- It’s not that important.
- I’m humbled.
- Go right ahead, I don’t mind.
- We should just learn from our mistakes.
- You’re the boss.
- Let’s chalk it up to experience.
Being bypassed for a promotion
In-negative / Explaining url
After shoving a neighbor in a fight
- It was just a misunderstanding.
- I can’t explain it.
- I admit it, I cracked under pressure.
- I would like to try to set things straight.
- It’s all my fault.
- I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- There’s a first time for everything.
- I acted on impulse.
- What can I say?
- I was taken off guard.
- Don’t get the wrong impression.
- Things just got out of hand.
- My pride got in the way.
- I hope I didn’t come on too strong.
- My emotions got the better of me.
- I really didn’t intend for things to turn out the way they did.
After shoving a neighbor in a fight
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who didn’t get the promotion he wanted
- You’ll be ok.
- If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
- You put up a good front.
- You’ve done all you can.
- It’s not the end of the line.
- You gave it your best shot.
- It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
- Don’t take it personally.
- I’m sure that thing’s will work out in the long run.
- Apparently it just wasn’t meant to be.
- The race doesn’t always go to the swift, but to those who keep on running.
- These things happen to the best of us.
- It happened through no fault of your own.
For a friend who didn’t get the promotion he wanted
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
My offer is good
- Don’t pass up an offer like this.
- You’ll never see an offer like this again.
- The offer still stands.
- It seems fair to me.
- That ought to add up nicely.
- I’m trying to accommodate you.
- There’s something in it for everyone.
- I’ll even go you one better.
- I’ll make it worth your while.
- That’s my final offer, take it or leave it.
My offer is good
In-negative / Doubt url
A friend tells you he’s taking drugs
- You’re throwing away your life.
- Don’t you have a mind of your own?
- Please tell me it’s not true.
- You just brought it all on yourself.
- Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
- Do you know what you’re doing?
- That’s what I call plain old stupidity.
- You must be crazy.
- Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
- I don’t seem to be able to get through to you.
- What are you trying to prove?
- You should have your head examined.
- You knew what you where getting yourself into.
- What are you trying to say?
- Was this your idea?
- It’s your own doing.
- Just look at you.
- Do as you wish, but don’t come crying to me for help when things go downhill.
- It’s the same thing over and over again.
- I don’t think anything I say will convince you one way or another.
- You don’t have anyone to blame but yourself.
- That’s the whole point, and I don’t think you’re hearing a word I’m saying.
- It seems as if what I’m saying is going in one ear and out the other.
- When I talk to you I don’t feel like there’s anybody home.
- What have you gotten yourself into?
A friend tells you he’s taking drugs
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-negative / Disappointment url
Dropping out of Law School
- I didn’t accomplish as much as I thought I would.
- So far I haven’t seen much progress.
- I’m batting zero.
- It’s nobody’s fault but my own.
- It’s not going anywhere, so why continue?
- I’m dropping out before it gets any worse.
- With my track record, I don’t think I have much of a choice.
- I’m a bit disappointed in my performance.
- I fully expected that I could have done better than I did.
- I just wasn’t good enough.
- It was just beyond my reach.
- It’s been an unmitigated disaster.
Dropping out of Law School
In-positive / Determination url
Marathon runner
- This is excruciatingly hard, but I’m committed to finishing it until the bitter end.
- I do what I have to do.
- I was bound and determined to do it.
- I’ll never be more ready than I am now.
- I’m going for broke.
- No rest for the weary.
- I’m ready to tough it out.
Marathon runner