Out-positive / Concern url
To a friend who is trying to decide whether to marry their boyfriend
- How do you feel about it?
- So what did you finally decide?
- Are you having second thoughts?
- You’re such a worry-wart.
- You look puzzled.
- You’re a scaredy cat.
- In your investigation, did you come up with anything?
- Perhaps you should consider being a little bit more flexible.
- You can’t be too careful.
- Why are you fighting it?
- Look before you leap.
- He who hesitates is lost.
- Perhaps you shouldn't be too judgmental.
- Have an open mind.
- I have some information, does it ring a bell?
- Don’t let yourself get rushed into it.
- Look before you leap.
To a friend who is trying to decide whether to marry their boyfriend
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
Out-neutral / Advice url
Open up
- Get it all out in the open.
- Just let it all out.
- Get it all out of your system once and for all.
- Don’t keep your feelings inside.
- Cry your heart out.
- Your feelings are all bottled up.
Open up
In-positive / Remembering url
Hearing a song from the past
- That brings back old memories.
- That’s as old as the hills.
- I last heard that many moons ago.
- It’s a blast from the past.
- It brings back good memories.
- It’s just like old times.
- Let’s have a walk down memory lane.
Hearing a song from the past
Out-positive / Friendship url
Happy for you
- I’m glad to hear it.
- I’m so happy for you.
- I’m really happy to hear it.
- Isn’t that nice.
- That’s wonderful news!
- Your bringing me up to date really makes my day.
Happy for you
Out-positive / Agreement url
Can I borrow a book, if I give it back within a week?
- By all means.
- No problem.
- I don’t mind a bit.
- Okie dokie.
- I don’t have any objection.
Can I borrow a book, if I give it back within a week?
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Buying a car
- I dropped a bundle on it, but I’m glad I bought it.
- The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
- How can I resist?
- I might as well.
- You never get something for nothing.
- It’s growing on me.
- It’s the best that I can do.
Buying a car
Out-negative / Push away url
Leave me alone
- I can’t be bothered.
- I couldn’t care less.
- It’s none of your concern.
- This is not my problem.
- Don’t try to pin this one on me.
- Give me some space.
- I don’t want to hear it anymore.
- I could care less.
- Nobody asked you.
- Don’t give me an ultimatum.
- Who cares anyway?
- Don’t twist my arm.
- Don’t start in on me.
- I think you’d better leave now.
- It’s none of your business.
- I think I've had enough.
Leave me alone
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss
- There’s nothing to be afraid of.
- You have nothing to worry about.
- Don’t sell yourself short.
- What’s holding you back?
- What could go wrong?
- Your fears are your worst enemy.
- I'm sure they're going to appreciate your trying.
- You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
- At the very worst, they won't use your idea, but it’s certainly not going to hurt anything.
- What's the downside?
- Grab the brass ring.
- Maybe they’ll take you up on it.
- What’s the worst case scenario?
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- No pain, no gain.
- Speak up and make yourself heard.
- 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.
- Just remind yourself that speaking up is not a bad choice, mind you.
- Don’t worry, they’ll understand.
- They’re on the up and up, and they’re not going to pull any punches.
- You need to stand up for yourself.
- I think you should jump at the opportunity.
- It never hurts to ask.
For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss
In-negative / Explaining url
Feeling depressed
- Things have gotten completely out of control.
- I’m not feeling well now, but hopefully I’ll feel a lot better in the near future.
- I’ve been better.
- I have to figure it out for myself.
- You’re catching me at a bad time.
- I’m having a tough time.
- Recently I’ve been bouncing around like a yo-yo.
- I’ve had my ups and downs.
- I'm not myself.
- I have a lot on my mind.
- I never said it was going to be any different from the way it turned out.
- I never saw myself that way before.
- I feel like a bundle of nerves.
- I feel like a bump on a log.
- If you only knew what I’ve been through.
- I’ve been feeling under the weather.
- What I've been through has really knocked the stuffing out of me.
- Whenever I’m nervous, I tend to clam up.
- After a while, I just ran out of steam.
Feeling depressed
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
Out-neutral / Observation url
General-3
- It’s as pure as the driven snow.
- Two wrongs don’t make a right.
- Some things never change.
- What you see is what you get.
- It takes one to know one.
- That’s par for the course.
- You see one, you’ve seen them all.
- What goes around, comes around.
- They’re a dime a dozen.
General-3