Out-positive / Friendship url
Secretive
- I told you all I can tell you.
- You can trust me, I won’t breathe a word about it to anyone, and it won’t go beyond here.
- Remember, not a word about this to anyone.
- I won’t tell a soul.
- A little birdie told me.
- That’s just between us.
- I’ll let you in on a secret.
- Keep it to yourself.
- Your secret is safe with me.
Secretive
In-positive / Confidence url
Given a new assignment at work
- I should have no trouble accomplishing the task.
- This will be one more feather in my cap.
- I know everything there is to know about it.
- It’s a piece of cake.
- Consider it done.
- I’ve done it once, and I can do it again.
- That’ll be no problem whatsoever.
- I can knock that off in no time flat.
- I can get through this in no time at all.
- I know where it’s at.
- Now we're getting into a whole new territory.
- That’s very do-able.
- That will be carried out to the letter.
- That’s as easy as pie.
- I’m going to get it done in two seconds flat.
- My head is still above water.
Given a new assignment at work
In-negative / Desperation url
Can’t pay the mortgage
- Things have gotten totally out of hand.
- I’m having trouble making ends meet.
- What am I going to do?
- Sometimes I feel that it's all going to be downhill from here.
- I hope I haven’t blown it.
- Nowadays, it’s hard to make ends meet.
- I’m hanging by a thread.
- If this goes on I’m going to lose my mind.
- I was up all night worrying about it.
- I feel down and out.
- Sometimes I tell myself, ‘Don’t even bother’.
- When I hope that things will get better, I realize: don’t hold your breath.
- I feel like I’m beating a dead horse.
Can’t pay the mortgage
In-negative / Confusion url
Lost in a forest
- I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.
- Do you think that we’re getting anywhere?
- What am I supposed to do?
- I can’t figure out what’s going on, and I feel like I’m shooting in the dark.
- How am I going to pull this off?
- I’m on a wild goose chase.
- What are we going to do now?
- So now what do I do?
- What’s going on?
- I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Lost in a forest
In-positive / Surprise url
Finding something after searching for it
- I looked all over the place for it, but all the time it was right under my nose.
- It seemed to disappear into thin air.
- I looked for it in the same place a hundred times, and it was right in front of eyes the whole time.
- It appeared out of thin air.
- It seemed to vanish off the face of the earth.
- I can’t believe I finally found it!
- Don’t that beat all?
Finding something after searching for it
In-positive / Confidence url
Using a new recipe for a meal
- I heard it directly from the horse’s mouth.
- Trust me I know what I’m doing.
- It’s as easy as 1-2-3.
- Maybe that’s all I have to do to make it work.
- That’s the way I like it.
- It’s as easy as pie.
- I’ve done it before, I’m totally capable of doing it again.
- I can handle it myself.
- It’s as easy as that.
- It’s a piece of cake!
- I can do it with one hand tied behind my back.
- The proof is in the pudding.
Using a new recipe for a meal
Out-neutral / Advice url
Strategize-2
- Don’t poke your nose into other people’s business.
- You may not be crazy about the way it tastes, but at least it curbs your appetite.
- It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
- Pretend it never happened.
- What’s the bottom line?
- Do it the easy way.
- One hand washes the other.
- Make the best of the situation.
- Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
- Attitude is 90% of success.
- Let’s float a trial balloon and see what the reaction is.
- To ensure your strategy works, make sure all your ducks are lined up.
- Here is my proposed/suggested game plan.
- Stay focused.
- Keep your eye on the ball.
- Don’t let yourself get sidetracked.
- A word to the wise is sufficient.
- You have to know how to choose your battles.
Strategize-2
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are lying-1
- You’re lying through your teeth.
- You’re as phony as a two dollar bill.
- Don’t start with that whole song and dance.
- You’re full of hot air.
- Just cut the bull.
- Don’t hand me that baloney.
- It’s a pack of lies.
- You speak with fork tongue.
- I have a sneaking suspicion that you’re withholding from me a very important piece of information.
- That’s utter nonsense.
- Don’t give me that crap.
- Cut the baloney.
- Oh give me a break, will you?
- I smell a rat.
- Do you expect me to believe that?
- Oh, give me a break!
You are lying-1
In-negative / Desperation url
Up all night writing a paper
- I feel like I’ve been through the wringer.
- It’s taking its toll.
- I’m running on empty.
- I’m all worn out.
- I’m at my wits end.
- I’m feeling very weary.
- I’ll never get it done in time.
Up all night writing a paper
Out-positive / Agreement url
I think the stock market is going to go up.
- If you say so.
- You’re usually right about things like this.
- You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.
- I’m fully aware of that.
- I won’t be surprised if it happens exactly the way you say.
- I’ll buy that.
- I know what you’re driving at.
- It certainly seems that way.
- That’s very possible.
- I hear you loud and clear.
I think the stock market is going to go up.
In-negative / Explaining url
Trying to fix work-mate’s computer
- I found the problem, but I just need time to fix it.
- I’m a little rusty.
- I’m working on it.
- I've hit a brick wall.
- I tried my best, but I guess that just wasn’t good enough.
- It doesn’t look like I’m making much headway.
- Oh well, it was worth a try.
- It may look simple, but it's really complicated.
- You can’t blame a fellow for trying.
- I’m sorry that it just didn’t work out.
- Back to the drawing board.
- I got more than I bargained for.
- That’s easier said than done.
- It was a shot in the dark.
- That’s what I could do.
- I’m sure you were expecting more from me.
- I’m trying my best.
- That’s the only thing I can think of.
Trying to fix work-mate’s computer
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.