In-neutral / Acceptance url
Admitting a mistake
- It may not be a pretty picture, but at least now it’s all out in the open.
- Everyone’s gotta do what they gotta do.
- What other options do I have?
- We have no choice.
- I decided to stand up like a man and admit it.
- Nobody’s perfect.
- Take it from me, it couldn’t be helped.
- One good deed leads to another.
- It’s better that way.
Admitting a mistake
In-positive / Surprise url
Reading the surprise ending of detective mystery
- You’ll never believe it.
- It was totally unexpected.
- I don’t believe it!
- I would have never guessed.
- It came out of the blue.
- Ahah!
- It took me by surprise.
- I didn’t see it coming.
Reading the surprise ending of detective mystery
In-negative / Doubt url
Being told that a bad investment you made will go back up
- You’re just trying to make me feel better.
- How can you be so sure?
- I think the truth is more complicated than the way you’re making it sound.
- What you’re saying just doesn’t hold water.
- I wouldn’t hold my breath.
- That’ll be the day.
- I don’t believe it for a minute.
- After what already happened, what difference does it make anyway?
- Maybe yes, maybe no.
Being told that a bad investment you made will go back up
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who just published his first book
- That’s a positive start.
- What a great accomplishment!
- You’re on a roll.
- More power to you.
- Sock it to me.
- Your off and running.
- I’m glad that it worked out.
- You do what you do very well.
- You did much more than you realize.
- That’s a step in the right direction.
- You’re doing a great job.
- It turns out that you accomplished more than you even realized.
For a friend who just published his first book
In-negative / Confusion url
Being a victim of a robbery
- I haven’t the faintest idea what happened.
- OK, now what do I do?
- I don’t know what to say.
- It’s hard to believe.
- I feel totally disoriented.
- I'm shell-shocked.
- What happened is weird, and can’t be explained so easily.
- This really messed up my schedule, but I’ll do what I can to get back to a semblance of normalcy.
- What was that all about?
- Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.
- How did that happen?
Being a victim of a robbery
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-positive / Agreement url
What do you think of our making a budget to keep track of our expenses?
- You took the words right out of my mouth.
- I think that it makes a lot of sense.
- It would certainly be a step in the right direction.
- That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.
- You’re probably right.
- I agree that this is what we need right now.
- Great minds think alike.
- Yes that makes sense, that stands to reason.
What do you think of our making a budget to keep track of our expenses?
In-negative / Confusion url
To someone explaining calculus
- I haven’t the foggiest/slightest/vaguest idea of what you’re talking about.
- I can’t make heads or tails of it.
- I don’t understand.
- Whatever do you mean?
- You’ve got me stumped.
- I don’t know what to make of it.
- It doesn’t make any sense.
- How could that possibly be?
- It’s Greek to me.
To someone explaining calculus
Out-negative / Push away url
Don’t push me
- Don’t rush me.
- Don’t pressure me, I’m going to get around to it in my own sweet time.
- I will do whatever I want to do in my own back yard.
- Don’t put pressure on me.
- Who do you think I am anyway?
- It’s a free country.
- Don’t play games with me.
- Don’t stand in my way.
- Don’t give me the third degree.
Don’t push me
In-positive / Confidence url
After finding way out of the forest
- Throughout the whole situation I was cool as a cucumber.
- It went off without a hitch.
- I’m sure it’s going to be smooth sailing ahead.
- It won’t happen again.
- I’m a better person after what I’ve learned from this experience.
- Sometimes we learn the most from our challenges.
- Climbing up the mountain took the wind out of me, and I had to rest for an hour before continuing my trek.
After finding way out of the forest
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 / Disappointment url
Employee feeling unappreciated
- I worked so hard for them, and all I got was a measly pat on the back.
- I feel so un-appreciated.
- I feel like I’m being exploited, but there doesn’t seem to be too much I can do to stop it.
- It’s the same old thing all over again.
- I feel like I’ve really been through the mill.
- I expected more.
- I think I deserve to be treated better.
- I’m not a happy camper.
Employee feeling unappreciated