Out-negative / Anger url
I see that you are bad
- What do you take me for?
- Do you take me for a fool?
- Don’t play me for a fool.
- You’re as spoiled as a rotten egg.
- Have you got something up your sleeve?
- I don’t like what’s going down.
- The whole situation makes me sick to my stomach.
- You’re an accident looking for a place to happen.
- You rub me the wrong way.
- You’re a disgrace to humanity.
- You should be ashamed of yourself!
- You are down right pathetic.
- I had the feeling you’re up to something.
- You’re lying through your teeth.
- That’s a bald faced lie.
- I bet your plan is the stab me in the back when I’m not expecting it.
- How can anyone in his right mind do something like what you just did.
I see that you are bad
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who just got an A average
- You passed with flying colors.
- That’s my boy!
- You out-did yourself.
- You did that well.
- All things considered, I think you did a great job, and you should be proud of what you were able to accomplish.
- That’s using your head.
- Nobody can do it better.
- That’s fantastic.
- Kudos to you!
- Your mind is sharp as a tack.
- Your in a class all by yourself.
- You should be proud of yourself.
- That’s a major accomplishment.
- I always knew you had it in you.
For a friend who just got an A average
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
I don’t understand your point
- That doesn’t make any sense to me.
- That has nothing to do with it.
- I don’t know what you’re talking about.
- Where are you coming from?
- You’d have to be a fool to think that.
- Anyone with half a brain knows that.
- That’s a little hard to swallow.
- That's neither here nor there.
- You’re being simple minded.
- I’m not convinced.
- What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
- That’s out of the question.
- We don't see eye to eye.
- Do expect me to take that seriously.
I don’t understand your point
In-negative / Confusion url
Trying to understand current events
- Can you help me figure out what’s going on?
- I don’t know who to believe anymore.
- Frankly, none of this make sense.
- I’m totally baffled.
- I don’t have a clue about what is going on.
- I’m totally dumbfounded.
- It puzzles me.
- I don’t know what to make of it.
- What do you make of it?
- What does it all mean?
- How has it come to this?
Trying to understand current events
Out-neutral / Advice url
Let it go
- Don’t prolong the agony.
- Get your mind off the subject.
- Let yourself go.
- Let it all hang out.
- Don’t dwell on it.
- Go with the flow.
- Let it flow freely.
- Put it all behind you.
- The best thing is to roll with the punches.
- A watched pot never boils.
Let it go
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
Try to see my viewpoint-1
- Look at it through my eyes.
- Just think about it.
- Listen to reason.
- Let me put it another way.
- Look at it from my point of view.
- I hope that’s not too much to ask.
- See how you like it.
- That just about covers it.
- I want something to show for it.
- I’d be lying if I said otherwise.
- What’s fair is fair.
Try to see my viewpoint-1
In-negative / Explaining url
Throwing out a bag of laundry by mistake
- How was I supposed to know?
- What did I do this time?
- That never would have occurred to me.
- I wish I had known.
- I had no way of knowing.
- OK, I’m not perfect.
- I apologize profusely.
- It was totally unintentional.
- There’s nothing I can do about it now.
- My humble apologies.
- Sorry about that.
- If I knew what I was doing, I certainly wouldn’t have done it.
- I certainly didn’t do it on purpose.
- They looked so similar that I had no way of knowing.
- It came as a surprise to me.
- I’m awfully sorry.
- How was I supposed to know that?
Throwing out a bag of laundry by mistake
Out-negative / Anger url
I’ve had enough
- I’ve had just about all I can take.
- Enough is enough.
- Now that’s the last straw.
- I think I’ve had just about enough.
- I’m fed up with it.
- I’ve had it up to here!
- I’ve had it.
- You’re getting on my nerves.
- You’ve been asking for it.
I’ve had enough
In-negative / Doubt url
Looking for keys that were lost in the park
- It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.
- Maybe we’ve been looking in the wrong place.
- Maybe we’re barking up the wrong tree.
- I think we’re wasting our time.
- Sometimes you just have to know when to call it quits.
- Let’s just call the whole thing off.
- After all this effort, I no longer know if I’m coming or going.
- I’m totally tuckered out.
- I think it’s a lost cause.
- Let’s do something else for a while and just keep my eyes open for it.
Looking for keys that were lost in the park
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are wrong-2
- This is highway robbery.
- I think you owe me an apology.
- I think what you are doing stinks.
- You’ve got it backwards.
- You’ve got some nerve.
- How could you even think of doing this?
- There’s no excuse for it.
- That was uncalled for.
- I ought to pity you.
- That was uncalled for!
- You don’t know what you’re talking about.
You are wrong-2
Out-positive / Agreement url
I followed your advice, and told her that I was sorry, and that ended the argument
- That’s just what I said.
- That’s what I figured.
- I know that only all too well from personal experience.
- I knew you’d understand.
- That’s more like it.
- No harm done.
- That was a step in the right direction.
- I think that made the most sense.
- I’m glad you gave it a try.
- That is very cool.
- I'm happy that it all worked out for the best.
- Been there, done that.
I followed your advice, and told her that I was sorry, and that ended the argument
In-negative / Explaining url
Refusing to lie on a tax return to save money
- What did you expect me to do?
- That’s not my style.
- Why should I take the risk?
- I do what I have to do.
- I’m doing it just to be on the safe side.
- It’s taking all my will power to resist.
- I was holding on by a thread.
- I think it's the best thing to do.
- My hands are tied.
- It’s out of my hands.
- I’m conflicted about it.
- I shudder when I think of the downside of doing this.
- I’d rather play it safe.
- It's the right thing to do.
- I just can’t take the chance.
- The risks far outweigh the benefits.
- The way I look at it, I really don’t have much of a choice.
- I can’t see myself doing that.
Refusing to lie on a tax return to save money