In-positive / Happiness url
Resting at home on a day off
- It’s nice to be home.
- It’s a nice change of pace.
- There’s no place like home.
- I’ve never felt better in my life.
- I have the best of both worlds.
- There’s nothing quite like it.
- Home sweet home.
- Everything is just swell.
- This is the day we’ve all been waiting for.
Resting at home on a day off
Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a quarterback at half-time with the score tied
- Knock ‘em dead.
- Give it all you’ve got!
- It’s a great start.
- It’s your moment of truth.
- Don’t give out on us now.
- The sky’s the limit.
- We’re confident that if you break through, you’ll be in the clear.
To a quarterback at half-time with the score tied
In-negative / Explaining url
Not doing work assignment on time
- I bit off more than I could chew.
- I didn’t accomplish as much as I thought I would.
- I took my best shot.
- That’s the best that I can do.
- It took me longer than I thought it would.
- I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately.
- I was sure I could do more in the time that I had.
- The whole thing blew up in my face.
- I promise to do better next time.
- I don’t know how to answer your question.
- It totally slipped my mind.
- I knew there was something I forgot to do.
- I have no excuse.
Not doing work assignment on time
In-negative / Desperation url
Lost in the forest
- I’ve run out of steam.
- The situation is so grim.
- The situation was so dangerous that I thought it was curtains.
- I’m worried to death.
- I can’t cope with it.
- I’m scared to death.
- Time is running out.
- It’s all a nightmare.
- I’m never going to make it.
- I’m reaching the end of my rope.
- I was up the creek without a paddle.
Lost in the forest
In-positive / Confidence url
Starting a new job
- I’m going straight to the top.
- I have what it takes.
- I’ll get the hang of it.
- Things are going my way.
- I know where it’s at.
- I’m perfectly capable of doing it.
- I’m getting the hang of it.
- It’s going ahead as planned.
- You can rest assured that everything will be taken care of, and that everything will exceed your expectations.
Starting a new job
Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a child who finished their homework
- Now that didn’t take so long, did it?
- Good for you.
- That sounds just great.
- Perfect!
- That was a very admirable thing to do.
- Awesome!
- Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
- Aren’t you glad that’s over with?
- Don’t you admit that it looked like it was going to be much harder than it turned out to be?
- See what you are capable of doing when you put your mind to it?
- That's my girl!
To a child who finished their homework
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
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Not catching a fish
- Kiss this one goodbye.
- It’s not like I have much of a choice.
- I’ll be darned if I can help it.
- That’s the way it is.
- It’s not that bad.
- There’s not much I can do about it now.
- I’m going to let bygones be bygones.
Not catching a fish
In-positive / Determination url
General during battle
- We’ll see what we can do to rectify the situation.
- Never, never, never give up.
- I’m a stubborn man.
- You’ve got to be tough as leather.
- Don’t give up the ship.
- That’s an order.
- Might makes right.
- I have no choice but to take matters in my own hands.
- If the enemy breaches our last line of defense, will we have to defend our position with all we've got.
- I’ve just begun to fight.
- I’ll take my chances.
- I’ll guard it with my life.
- I’m determined to go through with the plan.
- This is the moment of truth that will test our mettle, to see what stuff we are really made of.
- It’s now or never.
- It’s above and beyond the call of duty.
- We shall overcome.
- We’ve crossed the point of no return.
General during battle
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-positive / Apology url
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise
- I only wish I could have done more.
- I did the best I could.
- I’m sorry, my hands are tied.
- It might not make any sense to you, but that’s what they decided, and I hope you understand.
- I’m sorry that it’s not the answer you hoped for.
- My apologies that it took me longer to get the answer than I thought it would.
- I hope that we’ll be able to give you a better answer next time.
- I’m hoping this is something you can live with for the time being.
- I was told to explain to you that it’s due to circumstances beyond their control.
- Please give us a chance to make it up to you next time.
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise