Out-positive / Thanks url
After your boss tells you he convinced management to give you a nice raise
- I owe you a debt of gratitude Thank you for your time and effort, and of course the result.
- My gratitude knows no bounds.
- You helped me out of a tight financial squeeze.
- I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done.
- Thanks for the vote of confidence.
- Thanks a bunch.
- Thanks for letting me know as soon as you found out.
- You don’t know how good that makes me feel to hear you say that.
- That’s great.
After your boss tells you he convinced management to give you a nice raise
Out-positive / Concern url
To a friend whose new job is harder than he expected
- How’s this working out for you?
- Perhaps you got more than you bargained for.
- Your old job is a hard act to follow.
- You have to give it time for the dust to settle, to see if it works out.
- Things sometimes get worse before they get better.
- This is a chance for you to show your mettle.
- Rise to the challenge!
To a friend whose new job is harder than he expected
Out-negative / Annoyed url
Don’t act innocent
- Don’t get cute.
- Don’t give me that look.
- Stop clowning around.
- Stop looking so smug.
- Laugh if you like.
- Don’t toy with me.
- Don’t play dumb with me.
- Oh it’s little miss goody two shoes.
- Wipe that smirk off your face.
- Don’t be a wise guy.
- Don’t you think that’s a bit much?
Don’t act innocent
In-neutral / Caution url
A publisher given a story that might be libelous
- I just can’t chance it.
- I’m going to treat it with kid gloves.
- It could blow sky high.
- Let’s not rush into things.
- I may be sitting on a time bomb.
- One option is for is for me to just wait it out.
- I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
- It’s best if I wait until the whole thing blows over.
- I just don’t feel like bucking the system.
- I’m inclined to just tiptoe around the whole situation.
- I think if I got involved in any way I would be playing with fire.
- My gut feeling is that I should just leave it well enough alone.
- The fact that no one else wants to do it is not a good sign.
- I don't know the person involved from a hole in the wall, and I think I should regard that as a warning signal.
A publisher given a story that might be libelous
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Planting a tree
- It’s just a question of time.
- We’ll see results in no time at all.
- All good things take time.
- It’ll come in time.
- It will do for a start.
- That’s all that’s necessary.
- I’ll do my part and let nature take its course.
- Before you know it.
Planting a tree
Out-neutral / Advice url
Realistic-2
- The main question is, do you think you deserve better, and are you willing to make the effort to make the changes to make that happen?
- You get out of life only what you put into it.
- I didn’t mean to burst your bubble.
- You should know better that that.
- I think you’re just beating your head against a wall.
- You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
- You will reap what you sow.
- Beggars can't be choosers.
- You’ve got a long way to go.
- Let that be a lesson to you.
- Don’t buck the system.
- You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.
- The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
- It doesn’t have to be that way.
- No, no, no, you’ve got it all wrong.
Realistic-2