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-positive / Agreement url
Instead of throwing out plastic bottles, I think we should recycle them.
- That really hits the nail on the head.
- I hear you as clear as a bell.
- That’s exactly what I think.
- Good idea.
- I can’t argue with you.
- I must admit that I see your point.
- You’re absolutely right.
- That’s true.
- That's not a bad idea.
Instead of throwing out plastic bottles, I think we should recycle them.
In-negative / Explaining url
Being late for work
- I’ve had one of those days.
- I lost all track of time.
- Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
- It’s a long story.
- It’s just not my day.
- I’ve been burning the candle at both ends.
- It was just one thing after another.
- Before I knew it, more time had passed than I had anticipated.
- It’s the last thing in the world that I thought was going to happen.
- I have no excuse for myself.
- I just don't have any sense of time.
Being late for work
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
Let’s work things out-3
- It’s easy to have 20-20 vision about things that happened in the past.
- We both have to admit that neither one of us saw it coming.
- There are no guarantees.
- Let’s get it out in the open.
- So what’s the bottom line?
- Now let’s get things out in the open.
- We both want the same thing.
- Let’s have the whole story out in the open.
- I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have.
- Take all the time in the world.
- It doesn’t have to be that way.
- If that’s all right with you.
- Does it really matter?
- I’ll give it a try.
Let’s work things out-3
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Someone else gets the main role in the play
- Live and let live.
- That really doesn’t surprise me.
- It’s over and done with.
- Let the better man win.
- That’s all the more reason to leave things the way they are and not make waves.
- It’s just as well.
Someone else gets the main role in the play
Out-positive / Friendship url
Offering help-2
- Perhaps I can be of assistance.
- I wish I could do something for you.
- I’ve gone to bat for you.
- Take what you want to your heart’s desire.
- I wish you all the luck in the world.
- I’m doing what’s best for you.
- I thought you’d never ask.
- Don’t ever say I never did anything for you.
- I'm so glad you came over.
- Be sure to let me know if I can help.
- For you, I would do anything.
- I wish you the best of luck.
- I’d be more than happy to help.
Offering help-2
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Breaking up with someone
- It’s gone with the wind.
- It doesn’t matter.
- That’s the way it is.
- It makes good sense.
- Different strokes for different folks.
- I’ll just have to learn to live with it.
- It was nice while it lasted.
- It’s over once and for all.
- It’s over and done with.
- It’s all the same to me.
- It’s a little depressing, but what can I do?
- You take the good with the bad.
- To each his own.
- Her heart is in the right place.
- That’s what makes the world go round.
- It takes all kinds.
- I guess I got more out of it than I thought I had.
- All good things much come to an end.
- So much for that.
- I'm haunted by the fact that perhaps it didn't have to be this way, but it doesn't look like there's not much I can do about it at this point.
- It's a fait accompli.
Breaking up with someone
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are guilty
- You look like the cat that swallowed the canary.
- That’s pretty under-handed.
- You’re getting away with murder.
- It’s all your fault.
- I caught you red handed.
- You were caught with your hand in the cookie jar.
- What kind of game are you playing?
- I feel sorry for you.
- You know what you did.
You are guilty
Out-positive / Agreement url
What do you say about my leaving the steak in the oven another 5 minutes?
- That’s just the way I like it.
- That sounds reasonable.
- That sounds like a good idea to me.
- Whatever you say is fine with me.
- That would really hit the spot.
- That would do me just fine.
- That’s exactly what I had in mind.
What do you say about my leaving the steak in the oven another 5 minutes?
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Choosing where to put your investment money
- Only time will tell.
- You do what you have to.
- There’s something to be said for it.
- This is a good as time as any.
- We’ll worry about that when the time comes.
- Things will come to those who wait.
- It works both ways.
- That’s what it’s all about.
- It’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.
- I have half a mind to do just that.
- I’m biding my time.
- Thing’s stand as they are.
- It doesn’t make sense to do it any other way.
Choosing where to put your investment money
In-negative / Doubt url
Police questioning thief
- Your story doesn’t hold water.
- Can you please run that by me again?
- That’s hard to believe.
- You expect me to believe that?
- There’s something fishy about your story.
- You’re lying through his teeth.
- What you’re tell me just doesn’t wash.
- Do you expect me to believe that cock and bull story?
- That’s nothing new.
- It’s too late for that.
- I think you’ve been up to no good.
- You can talk till you’re blue in the face, I just don’t buy it.
Police questioning thief
In-negative / Confusion url
Waking up after a deep sleep.
- I fell into a deep sleep, and when I woke up I was so disoriented that for a short while I couldn’t remember where I was.
- My mind is going in ten different directions.
- I don’t know what to make of it.
- What time is it?
- How did I get here?
- I could use a breath of fresh air.
- What’s going on here?
- I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with it right now.
- I don’t feel like myself.
- I’m so tired, I can hardly see straight.
Waking up after a deep sleep.