Total Phrases- 4535
265 of 402

In-negative / Desperation url

Losing a job

  1. I can’t tell you how awful it is.
  2. I’m going to lose my mind.
  3. After what I’ve been through, I don’t know which way is up.
  4. It’s a lost cause.
  5. It’s a no win situation.
  6. It’s all downhill from here.
  7. It’s a sad state of affairs.
  8. It feels like things are spinning out of control.
  9. This is driving me up a wall.
  10. I’m at loose ends.
  11. It all seems like a bad dream.
  12. I feel like I’m on the ropes.
  13. I think I’m going to throw in the towel.
  14. After I try my best, and I find a lot of good that does.
  15. Where can I turn to?
  16. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

Losing a job

In-negative / Desperation
266 of 402

Out-neutral / Negotiating url

Try to negotiate correctly & fairly-3

  1. Don’t go back on your word.
  2. Let’s get back to basics.
  3. Give me a fair shake.
  4. I think you’re just trying to soften me up.
  5. Don’t jump to conclusions.
  6. Don’t put me on the spot.
  7. Be up front with me, and don’t go behind my back.
  8. I wouldn’t be too sure of yourself if I were you.
  9. You’d better be on the level.
  10. Don’t whittle away at me.
  11. It seems like everything I say falls on deaf ears.
  12. I’m a man of principle, and I’m not going to compromise my principles or standards to stoop and do something like that.
  13. I’m not made of money.

Try to negotiate correctly & fairly-3

Out-neutral / Negotiating
267 of 402

Out-positive / Encouragement url

To a friend going on a much needed vacation

  1. It will do you a world of good.
  2. It’s for your own good.
  3. You’ll feel like a new man.
  4. You’re more full of vim and vigor than most people half you age.
  5. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.
  6. It's a step in the right direction.

To a friend going on a much needed vacation

Out-positive / Encouragement
268 of 402

In-negative / Explaining url

Hitting the neighbor's dog with a car

  1. It took me completely by surprise.
  2. It came out of the blue.
  3. It really threw me for a loop.
  4. I take full responsibility for it.
  5. The experience has shaken me to the core.
  6. I had to make a split second decision.
  7. I had to save my own skin.
  8. It scared me half to death.
  9. It really shook me up.
  10. It’s a very unusual occurrence.
  11. How do you think I feel?
  12. Do you think I did it on purpose?
  13. I don’t know what to say.
  14. When push comes to shove, it’s not something I could have prevented.
  15. It was a freak accident.
  16. It happened in a blink of an eye.
  17. It sent shivers up my spine.

Hitting the neighbor's dog with a car

In-negative / Explaining
269 of 402

Out-neutral / Negotiating url

Express your viewpoint

  1. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
  2. You go right ahead.
  3. Speak for yourself.
  4. Shoot from the hip.
  5. Why didn’t you say something?
  6. Put your money where your mouth is.
  7. That’s your opinion.
  8. You can talk to your heart’s content.
  9. Cat got your tongue?
  10. Judge for yourself.
  11. You’re a free agent.
  12. If you’ve get something to say, say it.
  13. Run it by me again.
  14. Come on, out with it.

Express your viewpoint

Out-neutral / Negotiating
270 of 402

In-neutral / Caution url

Remembering being lost in the woods

  1. The memory makes my skin crawl.
  2. That was a hair raising experience.
  3. For a while it was touch and go.
  4. It all came down to the wire.
  5. I was in trouble up to my ears.
  6. It was the moment of truth.
  7. It kind of snuck up on me.
  8. Just the memory sends a chill up and down my spine.
  9. There’s a big difference between what I expected and what actually happened.
  10. There was no easy way out.
  11. It seemed like an eternity.
  12. I wasn't counting on it happening the way it did.
  13. The way it turned out was totally unexpected.

Remembering being lost in the woods

In-neutral / Caution
271 of 402

Out-positive / Friendship url

Offering help-2

  1. Perhaps I can be of assistance.
  2. I wish I could do something for you.
  3. I’ve gone to bat for you.
  4. Take what you want to your heart’s desire.
  5. I wish you all the luck in the world.
  6. I’m doing what’s best for you.
  7. I thought you’d never ask.
  8. Don’t ever say I never did anything for you.
  9. I'm so glad you came over.
  10. Be sure to let me know if I can help.
  11. For you, I would do anything.
  12. I wish you the best of luck.
  13. I’d be more than happy to help.

Offering help-2

Out-positive / Friendship
272 of 402

Out-positive / Encouragement url

To a fellow worker who was scolded for being late too often

  1. Between you and me, I think you got off pretty easy this time.
  2. You put up a good front.
  3. You and I know that you can do better than that.
  4. That’s to be expected.
  5. I’d say you got off easy.
  6. It’s not earth shattering.
  7. What did you expect?
  8. You need to stand up for yourself.
  9. It happens to the best of us.
  10. You and I know that you can do better than that.

To a fellow worker who was scolded for being late too often

Out-positive / Encouragement
273 of 402

Out-negative / Anger url

I am angry at you

  1. I’ve had it up to here.
  2. What is this crap?
  3. I’m fed up to here.
  4. You’re making me see red.
  5. You make my blood boil.
  6. I’m fit to be tied.
  7. You’ve got some nerve.
  8. I feel like I’ve got steam coming out of my ears.
  9. What do you think, that I’m a complete idiot?

I am angry at you

Out-negative / Anger
274 of 402

Out-neutral / Advice url

Opportunity

  1. It’s a once in a lifetime chance.
  2. You won’t regret it.
  3. It’s a golden opportunity.
  4. Don’t let the opportunity slip through your fingers.
  5. When opportunity knocks, be ready to open the door.
  6. Try it, you’ll like it.
  7. Make the most of it.
  8. You can’t afford to miss it.
  9. It’s right up your alley.
  10. You don’t know what you’re missing.
  11. It’s a veritable goldmine.

Opportunity

Out-neutral / Advice
275 of 402

Out-positive / Encouragement url

For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss

  1. There’s nothing to be afraid of.
  2. You have nothing to worry about.
  3. Don’t sell yourself short.
  4. What’s holding you back?
  5. What could go wrong?
  6. Your fears are your worst enemy.
  7. I'm sure they're going to appreciate your trying.
  8. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
  9. At the very worst, they won't use your idea, but it’s certainly not going to hurt anything.
  10. What's the downside?
  11. Grab the brass ring.
  12. Maybe they’ll take you up on it.
  13. What’s the worst case scenario?
  14. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  15. No pain, no gain.
  16. Speak up and make yourself heard.
  17. 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.
  18. Just remind yourself that speaking up is not a bad choice, mind you.
  19. Don’t worry, they’ll understand.
  20. They’re on the up and up, and they’re not going to pull any punches.
  21. You need to stand up for yourself.
  22. I think you should jump at the opportunity.
  23. It never hurts to ask.

For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss

Out-positive / Encouragement
276 of 402

In-positive / Determination url

Student work on a term-paper

  1. This deserves my total focus and undivided attention.
  2. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it and feel more familiar with the whole topic.
  3. I’ll get it done in no time at all.
  4. I’m going to hit the ground running.
  5. The task I faced was difficult, but I rose to the challenge.
  6. We’re wrapping it up.
  7. There’s no time like the present.
  8. Stay the course.
  9. I really have my work cut out for me.

Student work on a term-paper

In-positive / Determination